Murder By Mob Action Increase In 2018 – Police

By Our Reporter

The Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ochora, has Monday said that the country witnessed a fall in crime in the year 2018.

Ochora who was addressing journalists during the release of the Annual Crime Report at Police headquarters, Naguru in Kampala said that the reduction in cases of crime was as a result of among other factors, President Museveni’s strategic guidance towards the fight against crime and for the establishment of anti-crime infrastructure such as installation of CCTV cameras, finger printing of guns and recruitment of LDUs.

”The year 2018 saw a decrease in the volume of crime by 5.2%, where 238,746 cases were registered compared to 252,065 cases registered in 2017. Cases taken to court in 2018 were 73,035. Of these, 22,263 cases secured convictions, 1,248 cases were acquitted while 90,763 cases were still under inquiry by the end of the year,” Ochora said.

”There was however increase in Homicide, Sex Related Crimes, Breakings, Robbery, Political/Media crimes and Narcotic cases. The year also saw unfortunate incidences in which Susan Magara and 15 others were kidnapped and Murdered, Killing of Hon Abiriga Ibrahim, ASP Kirumira Muhammad and Dr. Gwaluka Ibrahim who were shot dead by organised gang of criminals. We are however happy to note that, the criminals involved in these acts have been arrested and committed to High Court for trial, save for the case of Hon. Abiriga Ibrahim,” he added.

However, the police chief noted that the past year witnessed an increase in the number of people killed by mob action.

”I urge the public to desist from taking the law into their hands and instead hand over suspects to Police. Murder as a result of mob action increased by 5.5% from the year 2017,” he said.

On fire, Ochora reiterated that there was a 7.3% decrease in fire emergencies handled by Police. This, he says, is attributed to increased fire safety sensitisation and public awareness campaigns throughout the year 2018. I still urge the public to desist from making false calls to Police about fire incidents.

As regards traffic and road safety, Ochora noted that there was a 3.0% reduction in the number of crashes reported in 2018, but, fatal crashes increased by 4.7% and serious crashes reduced by 6.8%.