The Police annual crime rate report has indicated that 4,460 people were killed in Uganda in the year 2020, representing an average of 12 people murdered every day.
According to the report released on Monday by the Inspector General of Police John Martins Okoth Ochola, 1,358 were killed through beating, 634 hit by blunt objects like iron bars and clubs , 436 strangled, 346 hacked, 249 shot dead whereas 55 were poisoned to death and 45 were killed in ritual murders.
“There was an increase in the categories of murder by shooting (37.5% increase), murder by strangulation (2.8% increase) and murder by aggravated domestic violence with a 16.1% increase,” the report says in part.
Greater Masaka region that has Kalungu, Masaka, Lwengo and Rakai districts at 366 recorded the highest number of murder cases whereas Rwizi Police region 352, Albertine 316, Aswa 266, and Kigezi region at 246 followed in that order.
In terms of districts, Ssembabule with 98 murders, Mbarara 92, Rukungiri 88, Ntugamo 75, Jinja 73, Luweero 73 and Kiryandongo at 71 topped the others.
Shootings
The report indicates that a total of 249 cases of shooting were reported in 2020, which was an increase of 37.5% from the year 2019 and of these, 36 were males.
“By the end of 2020, 43 cases of shooting were taken to court, 06 cases secured convictions, while 37 cases were still pending in court. A total of 171 cases were still under investigations,” the report says.
Kidepo region in Karamoja with 42 cases topped in cases of shooting followed by Kampala Metropolitan North with 30 cases, Mt.Moroto 30 were some of the leading regions.
In terms of districts, Kotido, Moroto, Napak and Kaabong in Karamoja region led in terms of murder by shootings.
Domestic violence
The report also indicated that the number of people killed due to domestic wrangles increased to 418 from 360 in 2019, giving a 16.1% increase.
The report indicates that Aswa region which takes most of Northern Uganda with 59 cases, Albertine 40, Rwizi 36, Rwenzori West 32 and Kigezi at 27 had the highest number of cases of murder as a result of domestic violence in 2020 in terms of policing regions.
In terms of districts, Amuru with 22 cases, Mubende 15, Ntungamo 14 and Kakumira at 12 had the highest number of people killed over cases related to domestic violence.
