Uganda to showcase forensic, DNA investigation advances at UN crime prevention forum in Vienna
The event, scheduled for June 3, 2026, at the Vienna International Centre in Austria, is themed: “Advancing Rule of Law Through Science: Uganda’s Contribution to Strengthening Forensic and DNA-Based Criminal Investigations in Africa and Beyond.”
John Baptist Asiimwe, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, who will lead Uganda’s delegation, is expected to share experiences on the role of forensic evidence in strengthening prosecutions and improving conviction rates in complex criminal cases. (Courtesy photo)
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Uganda will take centre stage at a high-level side event during the 35th Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), where government officials, forensic experts and international partners will discuss the country’s growing role in advancing forensic science and DNA-based criminal investigations in Africa.
The event, scheduled for June 3, 2026, at the Vienna International Centre in Austria, is themed: “Advancing Rule of Law Through Science: Uganda’s Contribution to Strengthening Forensic and DNA-Based Criminal Investigations in Africa and Beyond.”
Organised by the Government of Uganda through the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS), the forum will bring together senior officials from Uganda, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and legal and criminal justice institutions to discuss how scientific evidence is transforming crime detection, prosecution and access to justice.
Leading Uganda’s delegation will be John Baptist Asiimwe, the deputy director of public prosecutions, who is expected to share experiences on the role of forensic evidence in strengthening prosecutions and improving conviction rates in complex criminal cases.
Also expected to speak is Deputy Inspector General of Police James Ocaya, who will highlight the Uganda Police Force’s efforts to modernise criminal investigations through the use of forensic technology and scientific evidence.
Other speakers include Elena Rigacci, Chief of the Africa and Middle East Section at UNODC; Rachel Odoi-Musoke, Senior Technical Adviser at the JLOS Secretariat; Assistant Commissioner of Police Andrew Kizimula Mubiru, the acting Director of Forensic Services at the Uganda Police Force; and Dr Sylvia Namubiru, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET).
According to organisers, the discussions will focus on the increasing importance of forensic science and DNA technology in combating transnational crime, improving criminal investigations, enhancing accountability within justice systems and promoting the rule of law.
The side event comes at a time when Uganda has expanded the use of forensic technologies in criminal investigations, including DNA profiling, digital forensics, ballistics analysis and crime scene management.
Authorities say these tools have become increasingly critical in solving serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, sexual offences and organised criminal activities.
The event is being supported by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Kenya and the UNODC Office in Uganda, reflecting growing regional interest in scientific approaches to criminal justice.