By Tom Mugisha, tom.mugisha@alleastafrica.com
KAMPALA – A report released by a research firm show almost half of Ugandans were robbed last year, indicating a growing crime rate in the country.
The growing crime rate is now making Ugandans are increasingly feeling unsafe at home for the last one year.
The survey by Afrobarometer, however, shows that the number of respondents who say they were physically attacked by criminals has been cut in almost half, from 21 per cent in 2008 to 11 per cent in 2017.
The increasing crime rate, according to the research is attributed to the killing of the Muslim clerics and attacks on the villages in Masaka in Central Uganda.
The study says Ugandans feel less safe because of rising insecurity in their communities and a significant number of them are willing to back measures by authorities “necessary to safeguard security” even if the measures may infringe on basic rights.
For the last three years, the Uganda police have not released a crime report, so there is no official data from the Force regarding recent crime countrywide.
In response to the report, the Police Spokesperson Emilian Kayima told Daily Monitor there was need for police to increase vigilance.
“I think it is very important to take note of concerns raised by the research. It is also important to increase our constructive engagement with communities through community policing, investigations and prosecution of offenders. Looking forward to receiving this whole report so that we fully appreciate the contents,” police spokesperson Kayima said.
