crime 31 March 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Uganda Sees 25 Daily Deaths from Murders and Road Accidents in 2025
Uganda recorded an average of 25 deaths per day in 2025 from murders and road crashes, with 4,328 homicides and 5,383 traffic fatalities, according to the CID annual crime report. While overall crime dropped by 10.2 percent, road deaths rose slightly amid fewer total crashes. Source: https://observer.ug/news/crime-report-25-ugandans-die-daily-in-murders-road-crashes
In 2025, Uganda averaged 25 deaths daily from violent crimes and traffic accidents, as detailed in the Criminal Investigations Directorate’s (CID) annual report.
Homicides claimed 4,328 lives, or about 11 per day. Assault led with 1,326 cases, followed by mob violence at 950. Other methods included strangulation (415), hacking (338), stabbing (292), blunt force (289), domestic disputes (208), shootings (190), poisoning (111), ritual killings (61), and arson (58). Kyegegwa topped districts with 67 murders, trailed by Mubende and Kyenjojo (58 each).
CID Director Maj. Tom Magambo noted a 10.2 percent decline in overall crime from 2022 to 2025.
Traffic incidents saw 4,602 fatal crashes, killing 5,383 people—14 daily—up 4.7 percent from 2024’s 5,144 deaths. Serious injuries climbed 8.4 percent to 18,444, minor ones edged up to 3,668, but total crashes fell to 322,441 from 426,632. December had the most crashes (2,443), June the fewest (1,978); October peaked fatalities at 523, June lowest at 390.
AIGP Lawrence Nuwabine of Traffic and Road Safety linked higher deaths to festive travel surges.
Inspector General Abas Byakagaba highlighted the sub-county policing push, alongside CCTV, K9 units, forensics, and operations, crediting them for the crime drop. Total cases fell from 218,715 in 2024 to 196,405, with 79,291 reaching court, 99,004 accused, and 31,732 convictions.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)