Even as Uganda records an overall drop in crime by 10.2 percent, the latest Annual Crime Report 2025 shows that sex-related offences and crimes against children remain deeply worrying, with thousands of victims still reporting abuse across the country. Police recorded 12,606 sex-related crimes in 2025, representing 6.4 percent of all crimes reported nationwide. This […]
Even as Uganda records an overall drop in crime by 10.2 percent, the latest Annual Crime Report 2025 shows that sex-related offences and crimes against children remain deeply worrying, with thousands of victims still reporting abuse across the country.
Police recorded 12,606 sex-related crimes in 2025, representing 6.4 percent of all crimes reported nationwide. This is a 12.6 percent drop from the 14,425 cases recorded in 2024.
Out of these, 5,844 cases were taken to court. However the justice process remains slow. Only 790 suspects were convicted, 31 acquitted, and 413 cases dismissed.
A staggering 4,610 cases are still pending in court, 2,283 were not proceeded with, while 4,479 cases remain under police investigations.
Police statistics show that children are the biggest victims of sex crimes in Uganda. Out of 12,700 victims reported in 2025: 10,654 were female juveniles, 154 were male juveniles, 98 were male adults
1,794 were female adults
Defilement remains the largest category of sex-related crime, with 10,492 cases recorded in 2025, a 14.8 percent drop from the 12,312 cases reported in 2024.
While delivering statistics on the annual Crime , the CID boss Magambo Tom stated that 7,019 of these were simple defilement cases, while 3,473 were aggravated defilement.
He indicated that a total of 4,886 defilement cases were taken to court. Out of these: 713 secured convictions, 27 suspects were acquitted, 355 cases were dismissed while 3,791 are still pending before court.
The findings on the annual report also reported that 1,932 cases were not proceeded with, while 3,674 remain under investigation. A total of 4,999 suspects were arrested and charged in defilement cases. Out of these:740 were convicted, 27 were acquitted, 332 discharged, 3,900 are still undergoing trial.
The report further reveals that 10,493 children were victims of defilement in 2025. The age breakdown shows: 812 victims aged 0–8 years, 1,894 victims aged 9–14 years, 7,750 victims aged 15–17 years
37 adult victims.
Investigations also exposed disturbing circumstances behind some of the crimes with 191 children defiled by HIV-positive suspects, 94 defiled by teachers, 23 students were defiled by teachers in schools, 65 children were defiled by guardians , 40 were defiled by parents and 55 victims were children living with disabilities.
The majority of victims ,10,025 cases, were abused by other people including relatives, neighbours and community members.
Meanwhile, police recorded 3,473 aggravated defilement cases in 2025. The regions with the highest cases were: Rwenzori West where 225 cases were recorded, Kampala Metropolitan North with 221
Rwizi with 212 and Wamala with 204.
At district level the highest numbers were recorded in Mukono Division with 72 cases, Luweero 72 cases,
Mpigi 61 cases, Kayunga, Mubende and Isingiro , 51 cases each, Nakaseke and Kikuube 49 cases each
The Uganda Police also recorded 1,675 rape cases in 2025, slightly higher than 1,667 cases reported in 2024.
Out of these cases: 719 were taken to court, 22 secured convictions, 15 were dismissed while 682 are still undergoing trial
A total of 784 suspects were charged, with 744 still undergoing trial as all 1,675 victims were adult women.
The regions with the highest rape cases were: Kampala Metropolitan North with 121, Kampala Metropolitan South 120, North Kyoga 103, Kampala Metropolitan East 100, Rwizi 96 and
Rwenzori West with 78.
At district level the highest numbers were recorded in: Katwe Division of the Kampala Metropolitan policing area had 34 cases, Kawempe Division saw 31, Tororo 30 and Yumbe 27. Meanwhile, Kira Road Division, Kira Division, Kabalagala Division and Omoro registered 26 cases each.
Police also recorded other sexual offences including: 260 cases of indecent assault, 158 unnatural offences
21 incest cases. In total, 439 cases were recorded under this category in 2025, slightly lower than 446 recorded in 2024.
However, the report also shows a decline in child-related offences, with 8,064 cases recorded in 2025, down from 9,408 cases in 2024, a 14.3 percent decrease.
Out of these cases: 848 were taken to court, 176 secured convictions, 68 were dismissed, 6 suspects were acquitted while 598 are undergoing trial
Police also report 3,486 cases were not proceeded with, while 3,730 remain under inquiry.The most common offences were: Child neglect 3,023 cases, Missing children 2,092 cases, Child desertion 1,205 cases, Child abuse and torture 710 cases, Child trafficking 555 cases, Child stealing 263 cases
Child abduction 118 cases, Infanticide 51 cases, Abortion involving minors 47 cases.
The report shows North Kyoga registered the highest number of child-related offences with 682 cases, followed by: Kampala Metropolitan North 662, Wamala 461, Elgon 396 and Kampala Metropolitan South 371.
At district level the highest numbers were recorded in: Busia with 282 cases, Mityana 273
Jinja 219, Old Kampala Division 212, Hoima Central Division 172.
Police recorded 3,023 cases of child neglect in 2025, a 17.4 percent drop from the 3,663 cases reported in 2024. The regions with the highest cases were: North Kyoga 420, Albertine South 177, Elgon 167 and
Kiira 144.
At district level: Busia recorded the highest cases with 126, Hoima Central Division 97, Jinja 96, Budaka 72.
Police recorded 1,205 cases of child desertion in 2025, a 24.5 percent drop from the 1,597 cases reported in 2024. The highest numbers were recorded in: North Kyoga with 158 cases, Sipi 113, Bukedi South 90 and Elgon 69.
At district level the highest numbers were in: Busia with 70 cases, Kapchorwa 46, Kabale 44, Lira City West Division 41 and Bukwo 38.
Police recorded 710 cases of child abuse and torture in 2025, down from 787 cases in 2024.
The regions leading in these cases were Wamala recording 136 cases, Kampala Metropolitan North 56
Kampala Metropolitan South 51, Busoga East 37 and South Kyoga 28.
At district level Mityana recorded the highest number with 115 cases, followed by Busia with 25
Jinja and Kaliro 21 each, Mubende 16.
Meanwhile theft remains the most common crime in Uganda, with 56,360 cases reported in 2025, down from 61,529 cases recorded in 2024, an 8.4 percent drop.
Police submitted 39,508 theft cases to the DPP for legal guidance, and 30,397 were taken to court.
Out of these: 10,647 cases secured convictions, 429 suspects were acquitted, 4,113 cases dismissed
15,208 suspects are still undergoing trial
Police also say 8,216 cases were not proceeded with, while 17,747 cases remain under investigation.
A total of 34,526 suspects were arrested in theft cases, including 31,678 male adults, 1,805 female adults, 966 male juveniles and 77 female juveniles.
Overall 56,418 people were victims of theft, most of them male adults (43,448).
Uganda saw a 10% drop in crime in 2025, the Uganda Police Force revealed. Total cases fell from 218,715 in 2024 to 196,405 last year, a win for law and order.
Out of 79,291 cases taken to court, 31,732 accused were convicted, giving a 40% conviction rate. Meanwhile, 1,244 were acquitted, and 11,340 discharged. Over 43,500 cases are still in trial, and 77,298 under inquiry.
Theft led the pack with 56,360 cases, followed by assault (28,366), sex offences (12,606), domestic violence (12,361), and breakings (11,818). KMP South recorded the highest number of crimes (13,950), followed by Rwizi (13,416) and KMP North (13,340).
At district level, Wakiso Police Division topped the list with 3,177 cases, with Luweero (3,123) and Mukono (2,880) close behind. April had the highest reports (17,390 cases), followed by February (17,353) and November (17,172).
Despite improvements, the report reveals that detectives are overworked, handling 54 cases each, far above the UN standard of 12 per officer. Police is calling for more resources, recruitment, and training.
Police say the gradual drop in theft cases from 2023 to 2025 shows improved crime prevention, stronger policing operations and increased community cooperation in fighting crime.
