Regionally, Kyegegwa district recorded the highest number of murders at 67 cases, followed by Mubende and Kyenjojo with 58 cases each. Rukungiri and Oyam registered 54 and 53 cases respectively.
At least 25 Ugandans lost their lives every day in 2025 due to murder and road crashes, according to the 2025 Uganda Police Annual Crime report released on Monday March 30, 2026.
The report shows that 4,328 people were victims of homicide, translating into an average of 11 murders per day. Assault was identified as the leading cause, accounting for 1,326 deaths, followed by mob action, which resulted in 950 fatalities.
Other causes of murder included strangulation (415 cases), hacking (338), stabbing (292), and blunt force trauma (289). Domestic violence claimed 208 lives, while 190 people were shot dead. Additional causes included poisoning (111), ritual sacrifice (61), and arson (58).
Regionally, Kyegegwa district recorded the highest number of murders at 67 cases, followed by Mubende and Kyenjojo with 58 cases each. Rukungiri and Oyam registered 54 and 53 cases respectively.
Despite the figures, CID Director Maj. Tom Magambo said overall crime levels declined by 10.2 percent between 2022 and 2025, attributing the trend to improved coordination among security agencies.
“This positive development results from deliberate and coordinated efforts by the Uganda Police Force in partnership with other sister security agencies,” he said.
On road safety, the report paints a worsening picture. A total of 4,602 fatal crashes were recorded in 2025, leading to 5,383 deaths—an average of 14 people per day. This marks a 4.7 percent increase from the 5,144 deaths recorded in 2024.
Serious injuries also rose by 8.4 percent to 18,444 cases, while minor injuries slightly increased to 3,668. However, the total number of crashes dropped significantly from 426,632 in 2024 to 322,441 in 2025.
Traffic Police Director AIGP Lawrence Nuwabine attributed the rise in fatalities to increased travel demand, particularly during festive seasons. December recorded the highest number of crashes (2,443), while October had the highest number of fatalities (523).
Inspector-General of Police Abas Byakagaba said efforts to combat crime will intensify in 2026, including the full rollout of the sub-county policing model. He noted that crime currently stands at 56 percent nationwide.
“Other initiatives like CCTV cameras, enhanced K9 and forensic services, and operations have contributed to a 10.2 percent crime reduction in 2025, compared to 4.1 percent in 2024,” Byakagaba said.
Overall, police recorded 196,405 cases in 2025, down from 218,715 in 2024. Of these, 79,291 cases were taken to court, involving 99,004 suspects, with 31,732 convictions secured.