Uganda: crime and justice

What is the crime rate in Uganda?

Uganda's crime rate was 427.8 recorded crimes per 100,000 people in 2025, according to the Uganda Police Force's Annual Crime Report 2025. Police registered 196,405 cases, 10.2% fewer than the 218,715 in 2024.

The rate divides recorded cases by a population of 45,905,417, the UBOS figure for 2024 that the report uses. It was 527 in 2022, 516 in 2023 and 476 in 2024. Recorded crime counts only cases reported to police, so it depends on people's willingness to report as well as on how much crime happens. The most common offences were theft (56,360 cases), assault (28,366) and sex-related offences (12,606).

Official sources: Uganda Police Force: Annual Crime Report 2025

How many murders are there in Uganda?

Police in Uganda recorded 4,238 homicide cases in 2025, down 2.1% from 4,329 in 2024, according to the Uganda Police Force's Annual Crime Report 2025. There were 4,268 victims, of whom 3,397 were adult men and 550 adult women.

Of the 2025 cases, 1,286 had been taken to court and 2,638 were still under inquiry at the time of the report. The report says the main motives included land disputes, domestic violence, mob justice, family disputes and business rivalries. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime's international series puts Uganda's homicide rate at 9.0 per 100,000 people in 2023.

Official sources: Uganda Police Force: Annual Crime Report 2025 · World Bank: intentional homicides, Uganda

How many people die on Uganda's roads?

5,383 people died in road traffic crashes in Uganda in 2025, up 4.7% from 5,144 in 2024, according to the Uganda Police Force's Annual Crime Report 2025. Police recorded 26,044 crashes, of which 4,602 were fatal.

Serious injuries rose 8.4% to 18,444. The number of fatal crashes is lower than the number of deaths because one crash can kill several people. The figures count crashes reported to the police's Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, so crashes never reported are left out.

Official sources: Uganda Police Force: Annual Crime Report 2025

How many criminal cases end in conviction in Uganda?

31,732 of the 99,004 people charged in court on 2025 cases were convicted and sentenced, according to the Uganda Police Force's Annual Crime Report 2025. The report describes this as a conviction rate of 40%.

Another 1,244 people were acquitted, 11,340 were discharged and 54,688 were still on trial when the report was written, so the final share convicted will change. Of all cases reported in 2025, 79,291 went to court, 77,298 were still under inquiry and 39,816 were not taken further, often because they were civil matters. The report gives a detective workload of 1 to 54 cases.

Official sources: Uganda Police Force: Annual Crime Report 2025

What is the homicide rate in Uganda?

9.0 per 100,000: that is the intentional homicide rate in Uganda for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The peak was 12.3 per 100,000 in 2014 and the low 8.5 per 100,000 in 2021. Of 79 countries with 2023 data, 21st highest.

How many women are killed in Uganda?

3.0 per 100,000: that is the homicide rate for women in Uganda for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The peak was 4.6 per 100,000 in 2016 and the low 2.5 per 100,000 in 2008. World rank, highest first: 16th of 78.

How many men are killed in Uganda?

15.0 per 100,000: that is the homicide rate for men in Uganda for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2008 it has ranged from 14.7 per 100,000 (2022) to 20.2 per 100,000 (2014). Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 21st highest.

How many battle deaths has Uganda had?

The latest figure from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, for 2022, is 25. In 2007 the figure was 91. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 225, and Uganda placed 16th highest of 20. Of 43 countries with 2022 data, 36th highest.