Kassanda North Member of Parliament, Patrick Nsamba Oshabe, has questioned the effectiveness of police responses to crime, following the recent release of the annual Uganda Police Force report 2025 which indicated a 10.2% decline in criminal activity nationwide.
Speaking during NBS Barometer on Tuesday, Oshabe argued that given the country’s recent experiences, particularly during the just concluded general presidential and parliamentary elections, the crime report appears aimed at demonstrating that the police are performing their duties.
“There is a high level of theft where we live. People steal our coffee, goats, and other property. Most of these cases are reported to the police, but nothing happens afterward,” he said.
Oshabe’s remarks were echoed by former intelligence operative and political analyst, Charles Rwomushana, who pointed out the limitations of relying solely on reported crime statistics.
“The reporting of over 20,000 crime cases is something that should concern us. Many people are in jail for offences such as criminal trespass and malicious damage, yet proper investigations would reveal that some are detained unjustly, often due to land disputes,” he said.
“The police report only captures cases that were reported, not all the crimes that actually occurred. It also fails to indicate the number of victims or how many lives were lost.”
The Uganda Police Force’s 2025 annual report, released on Monday, indicates a significant decline in crime across the country. Total reported crimes fell from 218,715 in 2024 to 196,405 in 2025.
Several categories recorded notable reductions.
Assault cases dropped by 10.8%, falling from 29,580 in 2024 to 26,366. Sex-related offenses decreased by 12.6%, from 14,425 to 12,606, while domestic violence cases fell by 12.2%, from 14,073 to 12,361. Economic and corruption-related offenses also declined, down 12.1% from 13,132 to 11,548. Break-ins decreased from 13,511 to 11,818, and cases of threatening violence similarly saw a reduction.
Crimes involving children have seen a particularly sharp decline, dropping to 8,064 in 2025—a 14.3% decrease compared to 2024. This continues a steady downward trend from 14,489 cases in 2022 and 10,741 in 2023.
Speaking during the same political talk show, Kampala Metropolitan Police Chief Liaison Officer, SSP Donald Muhwezi, highlighted the interventions driving the downward trend.
“Over the past four years, crime has been decreasing annually. This is due to community policing, the canine unit, CCTV cameras, and support from other sister security agencies,” he said.
SSP Muhwezi emphasized the impact of extending police services to the sub-county level, as recommended by the President, stating that it has “greatly contributed to the reduction in crime.” He also credited specialized police units for supporting the efforts to curb criminal activity.
“A police force that is seeking more resources cannot afford to underreport crime. It is also difficult to track crimes that are not reported,” he said responding to criticism that some crimes go unreported or unresolved.