By Andrew Irumba
Naguru: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola on Wednesday released the annual crime report after a record four years since his predecessor Gen.Kale Kayihura last released one.
Flanked by his deputy Sabiiti Muzeeyi and other high ranking police commissioners, Mr.Ochola revealed Kampala was surprisingly ranked among the best with less crimes compared to other towns despite having the highest population.
However,there was an increase in homicides and theft in Uganda in 2017 but a drop in traffic accidents, according to the Annual Crime and Traffic Road Safety Report released on Wednesday.
The latest report covers the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. On average 21,005 crimes were reported per month in 2017, compared to 20,332 crimes in 2016.
“While we acknowledge that crimes reported to police increased by 3.3%, this is attributed to the public confidence in the police ability to deal with the reported crimes and making more reports than before.” said the Inspector General at the launch of the report at Naguru Headquarters.
He however noted that there was a decrease in the economic crimes, sex related crimes, break ins, robbery, assaults and political media crimes.
“We however note with concern the increase in incidents of violent crimes against persons such as homicides, thefts and child related crimes. There was a 19% decrease in fire emergencies handled by police from 1,356 incidents in 2016 to 1,099 incidents in 2017, due to fine sensitization and public awareness campaigns,” said the IGP.
Ochola acknowledged that the Task of fighting crime and keeping our roads safe is still a major challenge, “we are convinced that our community policing drive with popular participation and vigilance, combined with a motivated professional force shall overcome acts of criminality,’’ he said.
Road Traffic Crashes registered a 8.6% reduction in the number of accidents reported in 2016 from 14,474 in 2016 to 13,244 in 2017. 3,051 were fatal, 6,530 serious and 3,663 were minor. “The efforts in building traffic police through quantitative and qualitative improvements has yielded positive results and expect further higher quality service delivery in the years to come,” Ochola said.
Mbarara,Gulu, Mbale top in Crime
Regions that registered increase in cases reported were North Kyoga, Rwizi, Aswa, East Kyoga, Rwenzori West, Kigezi, KMP South, West Nile, Katonga, Greater Bushenyi, KMP East, Busoga North, Sipi, Mt. Moroto, Ssezibwa, Kiira, Rwenzori East, and CID Headquarters.
Districts of Lira, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Mpigi, Mbale and Gulu have continued to register highest crimes over the years, police report noted.
