The Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), AIGP Tom Magambo, has called for a data-driven, values-based, and institutional approach to tackling crime in Uganda.
In an exclusive interview with NBS Television’s Samson Kasumba, Magambo stressed that credible crime reporting and policy decisions must be anchored in verified data rather than public perception.
“Globally, you cannot compile an annual crime report based on perceptions of people. You must work with the figures that are in the system,” he said.
Magambo’s remarks come amid ongoing public debate following the release of the Annual Crime Report 2025, with sections of the public questioning its findings.
The CID boss also pointed to societal values as a critical factor in crime prevention, arguing that long-term solutions lie beyond policing alone.
“The best way to build a more decent society is based on the value system that children hold. This is how we can ground our society and reduce the many crimes committed,” he noted.
Magambo acknowledged that criminal activity is becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring continuous investment in capacity building within law enforcement.
“It is a requirement to build capacity and match the ever-evolving trends in criminals,” he said, adding that the police must stay ahead through skills development and modern investigative techniques.
In a pointed remark, he underscored confidence in CID’s capabilities: “If you really want to test our capacity, be on the wrong side of the law and give us a chance to see if we can catch you.”
The CID director also raised concern over rising criminality in land transactions, calling for deliberate policy and institutional reforms.
“Our policymakers and systems will need to deliberately establish a relevant institutional framework to guard against the growing criminality in land systems,” he said.
Magambo further highlighted gaps in police infrastructure across the country, noting that while progress has been made, more investment is needed.
“Clearly, we need to work on the infrastructure of our police stations countrywide. Sometimes I move around and make stopovers, and realize that a lot of work still needs to be done,” he said.
The interview provides rare insight into CID operations, with Magambo outlining a multi-pronged approach to crime fighting, combining data integrity, social values, institutional reform, and operational capacity.
