Former Rubaga Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner and ex-National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for Nakawa West, Herbert Anderson Burora, has urged Ugandans to actively participate in crime prevention, emphasizing that public safety is a shared responsibility.
Speaking during NBS Barometer on Tuesday, Burora acknowledged that development brings challenges, including an increase in crime, but noted that law enforcement alone cannot handle the burden.
"Development can come with challenges, such as an increase in crime. However, it is not solely the role of the police to curb crime; the community must also work with them," he said.
Burora also drew attention to domestic violence and land disputes as pressing social issues.
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According to the report domestic violence accounted for the third highest number of cases while land-related crimes rose sharply by 67%, with 663 direct cases recorded.
"The number of domestic violence cases should concern all of us; we must find a way to address the root causes," he said.
Burora argued that many land dispute cases involve influential individuals, including those in the security sector, underlining the complexity of resolving such conflicts.
Burora's remarks come shortly after the 2025 Annual Police Crime Report indicated a significant 10.2% decline in crime across Uganda. According to the report, total reported crimes fell from 218,715 cases in 2024 to 196,405 in 2025.
Several crime categories recorded notable reductions. Assault cases dropped from 29,580 in 2024 to 26,366 in 2025, while sex-related offenses decreased from 14,425 to 12,606 cases.
Domestic violence cases fell from 14,073 to 12,361, and economic and corruption-related offenses dropped from 13,132 to 11,548 cases. Break-ins declined from 13,511 to 11,818 cases, and instances of threatening violence also showed a downward trend.
Crimes involving children saw a particularly sharp decline, with child-related cases dropping to 8,064 in 2025, marking 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 on the same political talk show, Kampala Metropolitan Police Chief Liaison Officer SSP Donald Muhwezi attributed the decline in crime to several strategic interventions.
"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.
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SSP Muhwezi emphasized the importance 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 units of the police for strengthening efforts to curb criminal activities.
SSP Muhwezi further highlighted the challenge of underreporting saying it is also "difficult to track crimes that are not reported."
