Last year, 2021, Uganda Police dismantled thirteen (13) organized criminal syndicates in the country bringing the total of organized criminal syndicate groups dismantled in the country to 45.
According to the report, the criminal syndicates were operating in Metropolitan Kampala area, Mityana, Kiboga, Mbarara and Fortportal among others.
The report launched by the lnspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola at Nagulu Police Headquaters indicates that a total of 45 organized criminal syndicates have been dismantled by police since 2018. After dismantling of these syndicate groups, police says 136 criminals were apprehended and charged to court, 2 killed in action, 10 guns recovered and 21 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) also recovered.
According to the report, there was 0.1% increase in volume of crime reported to police in 2021, grom 195,931 cases reported in 2020 to 196,801 cases reported in 2021. The crimes reported range from Cybercrime, defilement and traffic-related offences, to cases of domestic violence.
Kampala Metropolitan (KMP) North region registered the highest number of cases reported (12,304) followed by Rwizi region (12,130) Kyoga North (11,485) Greater Masaka (11,192) and Albertine region with 11,186 cases.
IGP Ochola noted that the growing trends in crime reported in 2021 were greatly influenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic outbreak and the subsequent opening of the economy.
In the period under review, the leading cases were common assaults at 26,167 cases, domestic violence 17,533 cases and defilement with 10,563 cases reported. By the end of 2021, 65,008 cases were taken to court out of which 19,186 secured conviction, 346 were acquitted 3,789 dismissed while 41,687 are still pending in court.
However, the report notes that Uganda Police is faced with several challenges of tackling crime some of which are internal, others external, while others exist within the judicial chain including manpower, logistical constraints and budget limitations.