Crime in Uganda

Organized law breaking in Uganda, specifically from the early 2000s, is confirmed to sometimes have been contemplated by the personnel in government security agencies, viz., the Uganda People's DeFence Force (UPDF), the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and some independent organizations — ranking 26th of 54 countries in Africa.

Activities done

With accompaniment from some political leaders, a number of police officers are noted to have given out guns, disconnected the electric tunnels to rob, and make destructive killings around various regions including the capital city — together with the criminal gangs. This has arisen after the happenstance of COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides deforestation, various reports have also shown many of them soliciting for bribes from the local people so as to return their conficicated property during crime e.g. motorcycles; while others ask for money to conceal the criminal files, or provide feasible criteria without the official judgements from courts of law.

Even some high ranked officers have been involved in violation of human rights and grabbing public property for their personal benefit. As some of their fellows come out to expose their on-going terrible acts, such as Muhammad Kirumira; they are suspected to be assassinated on command of the very top officers.

Attempts to stop

When criminal cases were noticed to be highly increasing everyday, in 2018, the Ugandan government suggested the introduction of lower-level officers called the Crime Preventers under the Local Defence Unit (LDU) to help. However, allegations emerged that many of them involved in crime, too.

In May 2022 the government brought about another new measure. In a press conference, it was said that there will be use of electronic tracking, linking all the crimes to the databases of doers, with help of the respective body, National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). Though, this isn't implemented yet as of December, same year.

In traffic police

On the side of the road accidents, they are occasionally caused by traffic police officers, who tend to leave people without driving permits or licences to stay doing the work unprofessionally after giving them bribes. They sometimes make roadblocks, probably in the nights, intending for money.

Major cause?

While scamming foreign nationals too especially those with expensive things is common, there are some little expectations that all this, is at times caused by low pay to officers as many of them receive around Ush. 375,000 ($100) as a monthly salary, and without allowances. They raised their complaint to the concerned officials in mid-2022, although nothing is yet to be announced as a solution.