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Uganda Police, UK crime agency explore ways to deepen ties
“The meeting explored ways to strengthen the partnership between the NCA and the Uganda Police Force (UPF), particularly in combating transnational organised crime,” the CID statement said.
CID director and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Tom Magambo, who received the delegation on behalf of the IGP Abas Byakagaba, chaired the meeting.
By: Umar Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Uganda Police Force (UPF) and the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) have explored ways to strengthen their partnership, particularly in combating transnational organised crime.
This was on Wednesday (October 13) during a meeting between the top brass from UPF’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and a delegation from NCA at the CID’s headquarters in Kibuli, a Kampala suburb.
CID director and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Tom Magambo, who received the delegation on behalf of the IGP Abas Byakagaba, chaired the meeting.
A brief statement by the CID said Mary Lord and Amanda Hickman led the NCA delegation.
NCA leads the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime.
“The meeting explored ways to strengthen the partnership between the NCA and the Uganda Police Force (UPF), particularly in combating transnational organised crime,” the CID statement said.
Reports say Uganda’s borders are porous and the country is vulnerable to illegal cross-border activities, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
NCA leads the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime.
“The meeting explored ways to strengthen the partnership between the NCA and the Uganda Police Force (UPF), particularly in combating transnational organised crime,” the CID statement said.
Reports say Uganda’s borders are porous and the country is vulnerable to illegal cross-border activities, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
The UPF said in its 2025 annual crime report that it conducted a series of targeted operations aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal syndicates operating both within and outside the country.
“These operations were intelligence-led and informed by analysis of emerging crime trends to identify, track, and apprehend individuals and networks involved in organised crime, including robberies, murder, financial crimes, cyber-related offences, human trafficking, and other transnational and street crimes,” it said.
The success of these operations was largely attributable to effective inter-agency collaboration and coordinated efforts with key stakeholders, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions ODPP, the Financial Intelligence Authority, Internal Security Organisation, Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Judiciary, and other stakeholders.
“In addition, cooperation with national and international partners facilitated the tracking of cross-border criminal networks, the recovery of illicit proceeds, and strengthened collective efforts to combat organised crime and safeguard national security,” the report added.