Criminal Justice

The capacity to prevent and respond to crime is essential in ensuring law and order in the country. Key among the critical components is strengthening the capacity of crime-fighting agencies, including investigation, prosecution, and correctional institutions, to reduce the crime rate and effectively and efficiently respond to crime. In addition, the Sector implements specific measures to boost the rehabilitation of offenders, including juveniles, with the aim of reducing recidivism levels.

According to the Global Competitiveness Report of 2018, Uganda’s reliability of policing service (index) was 3.8 in 2018, on a scale of 1-5. The higher the score, the greater the reliability.  As a result of investments into crime-fighting agencies, the conviction rate increased to 63%. Investments in the rehabilitation of inmates led to a reduction in reoffending rates, from 25% in 2015 to 15% in 2019.

However, the daily average population of prisoners in custody has been on the rise, from 30,509 prisoners in FY2010/11 to over 60,000 prisoners in 2019, an annual growth of 8.3% compared to the 3.0% National population growth, resulting in overcrowding. There remain weaknesses in crime-fighting agencies, the absence of comprehensive standards for investigation, prosecution, and correctional services, the limited use of scientific evidence in crime management, and limited staffing in UPF and UPS.

As a result, there is a need to implement a crime prevention strategy: 

• Increase use of forensic science; increase use of crime intelligence
• Increase use of technology in crime records (data) management and integration of policing case management systems within the UPF with other criminal justice institutions in the Sector (ODPP, Judiciary, DGAL, Uganda Prisons Service). 
• There is a continued need to strengthen offender rehabilitation, as well as an increase in UPS holding capacity.