Uganda’s overall crime rate fell by 10.2% in 2025, with 196,405 cases reported compared to 218,715 in 2024, according to the Uganda Police Force’s Annual Crime Report 2025. Of these, 79,291 cases were brought to court, resulting in 24,899 convictions, 31,732 people sentenced, while 43,551 cases remain under trial.
Releasing the report at police headquarters in Naguru, Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba credited the decline to a strengthened interagency mechanism. He said that under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Forces, the improved collaboration between security agencies has enhanced law enforcement capabilities across the country.
Director of Criminal Investigations Tom Magambo highlighted the dedication of his team, saying that officers remain committed to investigating and resolving cases thoroughly, despite the notable drop in crime.
The report shows that theft, assault, and domestic violence continue to top the list of offenses. Theft fell by 8.4%, with 56,360 cases recorded, while assault decreased by 10.8% to 26,366 cases. Domestic violence also dropped significantly, with 12,361 cases reported, down 12.2% from the previous year.
Traffic and road safety incidents saw the largest decline, falling 24.4% to 322,441 cases from 426,432 in 2024. Fraud cases, particularly those involving obtaining money by false pretences, dropped to 8,455, while robbery cases decreased slightly to 7,863. Reports of break-ins fell 12.5% to 11,818, and criminal trespass incidents declined by 15.7% to 6,467. Homicides saw a small reduction, with 4,238 cases recorded in 2025.
Economic and corruption-related crimes decreased to 11,548 cases, down from 13,132 the previous year, reflecting stronger accountability measures. The fight against narcotics showed major progress, with drug-related cases dropping 30% to 1,569. Child-related offenses also fell by 14.3%, from 9,408 cases in 2024 to 8,064 in 2025. Fire incidents and rescue operations reduced by 31.3%, with 1,310 cases reported and 96.9% of them attended to.
Political and electoral offenses, however, increased sharply, with 800 cases recorded compared to 105 in 2024. Magambo explained that most of these incidents occurred during Parliamentary elections, but he noted that recent elections have been the most peaceful in Kampala in years, with no reports of looting or widespread violence.
