Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2012
Uganda 2012 OSAC Crime and Safety Report
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Uganda has experienced noticeable improvement in all security categories except international terrorism and road safety. The Ugandan Police Force (UPF) has concentrated its efforts on reducing crime, and the results have been impressive. Improved security has eliminated the need for extraordinary security measures in all but the Karamoja region, and those measures are being reevaluated by the United Nations and the U.S. Embassy. Threats from regional terror organizations still plague Uganda. However, increased capacity of the Government of Uganda (GOU) to deal with these threats and continued victories on the battlefield in Somalia and around the world may have diminished the abilities of these groups to conduct attacks. Conversely, police mismanagement of the Walk to Work (W2W) protests has resulted in numerous and sometimes deadly altercations between police and protestors. Although police crack downs have diminished the impact of the W2W protests, future demonstrations in response to corruption, economic and infrastructure woes could easily be aggravated by similar overreactions by the police and should be monitored. Overall, the security situation in Uganda is notably improved over last year’s report.
Crime Threats
Crime, specifically violent crime has reduced significantly in Uganda. A sharp increase in the number of police on the street has cut reported incidents of crime in half in the Kampala metropolitan area according to the Inspector General of Police. The U.S. Mission has also observed a decrease in reported crimes. Pick-pocketing, “snatch and run” thefts (including from occupied and unoccupied vehicles) along with other petty and opportunistic crimes are still common in Kampala but rarely involve acts of violence. OSAC members should still exercise caution when visiting crowded areas such as large open-air trading markets as in any large city with large numbers of poor and unemployed.
Common crimes, generally crimes of opportunity rather than planned attacks, include, but are not limited to: thefts from vehicles, thefts of property from residences, residential break-ins, strong-armed robberies, pick-pocketing, “snatch and grab” thefts, theft from hotel rooms, and an increasing number of financial fraud cases involving credit cards, personal checks and counterfeiting. These crimes can occur day and night. Crimes that result in violence are more commonly seen when the victim attempts to resist the assailant. Two reported violent crimes from November 2009 involved “boda boda” drivers (motorcycles for hire) sexually assaulting their female passengers after picking them up outside of a nightclub in the Kisamenti area of Kampala. Due to reported security incidents and accidents involving “boda bodas,” the Chief of Mission declared off limits any motorcycle-for-hire transportation by Embassy employees during nighttime; during daytime it is discouraged.
There is no widespread anti-American sentiment in Uganda, nor are Americans singled out as victims of crime. Victimization by criminals is based upon the perception of the victim’s affluence and whether he or she presents an appealing “target of opportunity;” for example walking alone after dark in a secluded area.
Road Safety
OSAC members will encounter road conditions in Uganda which differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below is provided for general reference only, and may not apply in all circumstances.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities per vehicle in the world. Roads in Uganda are poorly maintained, inadequately marked, and poorly lit. Road travel outside Kampala to other cities is dangerous during the day and treacherous at night. The Regional Security Office (RSO) strongly advises Embassy staff to limit any road travel after dark to inside Kampala, and prohibits any travel outside of the greater Kampala/Entebbe area after dark. Driving hazards at night include broken-down vehicles left in the road, pedestrians walking in the road, drunken drivers, stray animals, poor road conditions, and the possibility of armed robbery. The road lighting in larger cities is inadequate at best and virtually nonexistent in smaller cities.
Under normal driving conditions, drivers in Uganda are exposed to inappropriate speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, commuter buses that ignore traffic laws, vehicles that are not “road safe” (including lack of brake/indicator lights) and the lack of basic safety equipment. Police enforcement of road safety standards and traffic laws is minimal, but appears to be improving. While general vehicle travel during daylight hours on both paved and unpaved roads is considered relatively safe, it is important to note that the varying conditions of the roadways (including numerous potholes) combined with excessive speed can lead to serious accidents. OSAC members should educate drivers and other staff to maintain safe driving speeds and never encourage or condone risky passing on Uganda roadways.
The general lack of an immediate police/emergency response to traffic accident scenes often results in delayed emergency service response. Instead, accident victims rely on bystanders as the accident scene “first responders.” For this reason and considering the lack of first world medical care in the majority of districts in Uganda, travelers should maintain the equipment and training to be able to perform first aid for themselves.
Political Violence
Historical perspective
At one time, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a domestic insurgent group led by Joseph Kony, operated with relative ease throughout northern Uganda. Beginning in 2005, the Ugandan military made significant strides to push LRA fighting elements out of Uganda, into Southern Sudan, and then into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The LRA was completely removed from northern Uganda by the end of 2006 and has not conducted operations here since.
Overall security in northern Uganda has greatly improved as a result of the military success against the LRA. The introduction of civilian police into the north in addition to significant efforts by the GOU and the international community have accomplished a remarkable turnaround. Seldom do common criminals and roaming bandits still carry out armed attacks on vehicles; when this does happen, it is mostly at night. For this reason travel after sundown outside the district capitals of the north is prohibited for U.S. Embassy personnel.
Regional Security, Terrorism and Organized Crime
While Uganda is generally viewed as a safe, secure and politically stable country within the region, its extensive and porous borders are inadequately policed, allowing for a robust flow of illicit trade and immigration. Rebel groups operate freely in the eastern DRC, posing a potential risk along Uganda’s western border region. The northern border with Southern Sudan has a limited security presence and current instability which could draw Uganda into a regional conflict but it is unlikely that it would spill over the border into Uganda. The eastern border with Kenya is also difficult to police, however, main roads and border crossings have a consistent police presence.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) originally a Ugandan based insurgency now operates in eastern DRC and is listed as a terrorist organization. In the past, the ADF made incursions into western Uganda along the Muzizi River, near Semliki National Park in Bundibugyo District. The ADF launched offensive actions into western Uganda in March 2007; the Ugandan military counter-attacked. This offensive military action resulted in the killing or capturing of 100 ADF fighters. The GOU remains vigilant for threats from the ADF but most analysts agree the ADF poses little threat to security in Uganda.
Primarily, Uganda does not have any large organized crime elements operating within the country. Human smuggling syndicates operate in Uganda providing fraudulent identification for intending illegal immigrants to the European Union, but the volume is likely small. Since Uganda lacks any law that prevents money laundering, organizations could easily operate with little risk of exposure based on its negligent financial regulatory framework but thus far none have emerged.
International Terrorism
The largest terrorist threat in Uganda is al-Shabaab and al-Qa’ida East Africa (AQEA). The threat stems from Uganda’s continued support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The twin suicide bombings in July 2010 in Kampala, where 76 people were killed, was al-Shabaab’s first successful operation executed outside of Somalia and showed they were ready, willing, and able to launch attacks outside of Somalia. Al-Shabaab has vowed to continue to attack the interests and citizens of those countries participating in the AMISOM effort (The United States government is a major contributor to the AMISOM effort.) Recent AMISOM victories over al-Shabaab coupled with the introduction of the Kenyan and Ethiopian military into the fight in Somalia may divert al-Shabaab resources away from Uganda. In addition to this the USG and our partners have removed many of AQ and AQEA leaders from the battlefield undermining their ability to project power on the continent. This said, as two of the largest supporters of the AMISOM effort, Uganda and US interests in Uganda will remain primary targets of terrorism in Uganda for the foreseeable future.
Civil unrest
The threat of civil unrest, public protests, strikes, demonstrations, and political violence is currently rated at the medium level for Uganda. Nevertheless, politically or economically motivated demonstrations can surface sporadically with little to no warning. The W2W protests following the elections in 2011 focused on high commodity prices. Several demonstrations since were rallied against economic issues like power outages, levies on taxis and interest rates and will likely continue.
Demonstrations occasionally take place in Kampala and other Ugandan cities in response to world events or local conditions. Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly violent when police response is not appropriately measured. It is advisable to avoid demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if in the vicinity of any demonstration. Staying current with media coverage of local events, continually evaluating one’s surroundings and planning to avoid conflict will usually mitigate these risks. Developing communication strategies on security issues with local staff can provide an early warning system for demonstrations as local staff generally consume all local media and can also tap into unfounded information.
In April 2010, nationwide W2W protests of rising prices turned violent when the police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse protestors in Uganda’s major cities. Rallied by the violent overreaction by police the relatively insignificant W2W protest gathered momentum that led to widespread violent protests which shut down the capital and resulted in several deaths, hundreds of injuries and many arrests. The police and intelligence services acted aggressively against journalists and protest organizers to prevent future protest and as a result the momentum of the W2W campaign has all but dissipated completely. Police actions have drawn significant criticisms from the international community and human rights organizations, but the GOU is resolved to prevent unrest regardless of how it affects it’s human rights record.
The GOU has established tight controls on general security in the country. OSAC members should still remain vigilant and plan for the possibility of civil unrest as crack downs of this kind often lead to discontent and ultimately larger and more deadly demonstrations.
Post-Specific Concerns
Disasters and environmental hazards
Rapid-onset disasters can range from short-term food security crises to flash floods, infectious disease outbreaks, and political crisis/conflict situations. Slow-onset disasters stem primarily from food insecurity due to drought with a number of other factors contributing to root causes. Most communities in northern Uganda recently readjusted to normalcy following 23 years of insurgency at the hands of the LRA. The vast majority of people in northern Uganda live in rural areas and are engaged primarily in subsistence-based livelihoods, living largely at the mercy of the production capacity of the land and the vicissitudes of the weather. For most of the year, these households have little or no cash to purchase food or other essentials from the market, nor do they have any assets to sell to smooth consumption. They typically cultivate very small plots of land, and own very few livestock.
In December 2010, there was an outbreak of yellow fever in a handful of northern districts. In September 2008, there was an Ebola outbreak in the western district of Bundibugyo, while northern districts located west of the Nile River have experienced various outbreaks of black plague. Government management of these outbreaks has been impressive over that last year but travelers should be aware of the heightened threat posed by infectious disease in Uganda.
Industrial and Transportation Accidents
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Uganda’s air carrier operations. No specific potential threats from industrial accidents or transportation have been identified but it is safe to assume that regulations for the processing and transportation of dangerous chemicals does not meet U.S standards and could pose a risk. In addition, training and equipment available to emergency response teams are inadequate to deal with a major catastrophe.
Kidnappings
Historically, Americans have not been specifically targeted for kidnapping in Uganda. In September 2008, a group of non-governmental organization (NGO) workers were taken from just south of Arua (located in West Nile) into the DRC and held for six hours prior to being released. This highlights how the border region with the DRC is not well patrolled and rebel groups operating in the DRC have been known to operate make shift check points along the DRC border region to extort money from travelers. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to any remote area of the country, including the borders with DRC and Southern Sudan. Ugandan security forces do not have a widespread security presence in these border regions.
Drugs and Narcoterrorism
Uganda does not play a major role in the production, trafficking, or consumption of illicit narcotics or precursor chemicals associated with the drug trade. However, Uganda is strategically located along a major narcotics transit route between Middle Eastern, Asian, and West African heroin markets, and the amount of drugs transiting via Uganda is increasing. Illicit narcotics transit Uganda for markets in Africa, Europe, and the United States, primarily due to Uganda’s good airline connections between those markets and Asia. Narcotic drug traffickers use Uganda as a transit point on an increasing basis. Cannabis is grown throughout Uganda. Cannabis growing is rarely policed areas, allowing for large cannabis crops to flourish in remote rural areas of the country. Even with an ill-equipped Police Drug Investigative Unit, seizures of illicit drugs are up, and illegal exports from Uganda are rising. The Ugandan Counternarcotics Unit maintains an interdiction team at the international airport. Uganda is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.
Police Response
The Ugandan police have made significant strides in their ability to react to crime and other incidents. Anecdotally the embassy community has experience several accidents where quick intervention by the police has kept our people safe. That said police still lack adequate training and equipment and are severely underpaid. Most police stations throughout the capital city have few phone lines, meager radio communications, and a limited supply of vehicles, which are often in need of fuel. Police attempts to deter crime by placing their limited forces in static locations, supplemented by mobile patrols have been increasingly successful. Although police corruption is extensive, as evidenced by frequent requests from police officers for “donations” to cover the cost of completing a police report or responding to a traffic accident we have seen an increase in the willingness of police management to intervene and punish those who solicit bribes. We have found that regular personal interaction with mid to high level police officials significantly improves the quality of service one can expect from the police. Investigations which result in the identification and apprehension of a suspect are often lengthy and require regular follow-up by the complainant.
The national emergency police response number is “999”. Due to the limitations of the police, many local businesses choose to augment their security by employing private armed guards or watchmen. The quality of these services ranges from poor to adequate.
Police detention or harassment
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and which may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Persons violating Uganda’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. In many countries around the world, including Uganda, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.
Entrance visas can be obtained at the airport or land port-of-entry, but to avoid possible confusion or delays, travelers are advised to obtain a valid Ugandan visa at the nearest Ugandan Embassy prior to arrival. For more information on entry and exit requirements, consult the Country Specific Information for Uganda at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website: <http://travel.state.gov>. Ugandan law strictly prohibits the photographing of military installations, police/military personnel, industrial facilities, government buildings, and infrastructure (such as roads, bridges, dams, and airfields); such sites are rarely marked clearly. Travel guides, police, and Ugandan officials can advise if a particular site may be photographed. Photographing prohibited sites may result in the confiscation of film and camera.
Foreign currency should be exchanged in authorized banks, hotels and other legally authorized outlets and proper receipts should be obtained for the transactions. Exchange receipts are required to convert unused Ugandan currency back to the original foreign currency. Penalties for exchanging money on the black market range from fines to imprisonment. Credit cards are not accepted at many hotels, restaurants, shops, or other local facilities, although they are accepted at the major chain hotels in Kampala.
If you are the victim of a crime
You should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy (see end of this sheet or see the U.S. Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). This includes the loss or theft of a U.S. passport. The Embassy staff can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Uganda is “999” but the emergency response is not equivalent to an emergency response in the US. Generally reporting a crime directly to nearest the police station will result in a quicker emergency response then relying on dialing “999”.
Medical Emergencies
Local hospitals and clinics
Health facilities in Kampala are very limited and are generally inadequate outside the capital. Even the best hospitals in Kampala suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated equipment, and shortages of supplies (particularly medicines). Visitors are advised to carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines, as well as a doctor’s note describing the medication. There is a shortage of physicians, and emergency assistance is limited. Quality psychiatric services are almost nonexistent in Uganda.
Malaria is prevalent in Ugandan, especially in rural regions. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and explain to the health care provider their travel history and which anti-malarials they have been taking.
Travelers to Uganda should also avoid swimming in any lakes, rivers, or still bodies of water. All bodies of water have been found to contain parasites, including schistosomiasis. Uganda has had outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and other bacterial diarrhea in the recent past, and the conditions for reoccurrences continue to exist in both urban and rural settings.
Air ambulance services
Serious illnesses and injuries often require travelers to be medically evacuated from Uganda to a location where adequate medical attention is available. Such medevac services are available locally but can be very expensive and are generally available only to travelers who either have travel insurance that covers medevac services or who are able to pay in advance the considerable cost of such services (often in excess of 40,000 USD). The State Department strongly urges US citizens to consult their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to determine whether the policy applies overseas and whether it covers emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
Tips on How to Avoid Becoming a Victim
Crime and Safety tips
Visitors are strongly advised to review their personal safety and security posture, to remain vigilant and to be cautious by lowering their public profile when frequenting public places and landmarks. Visitors are advised to beware of unattended baggage or packages left in any location, including in mini-buses and private taxis. Visitors should limit the amount of cash they carry and leave valuables, such as passports, jewelry, and airline tickets in a hotel safe or other secure place. Visitors should carry only the items and cash that they are willing to lose and keep wallets and other valuables where they will be less susceptible to pick-pockets. Visitors should be cautious at all times when traveling on roads in Uganda. There have been reports of highway robbery, including carjacking, by armed bandits outside urban areas. Some incidents have been accompanied by violence. Visitors are cautioned to limit road travel outside towns or cities to daylight hours and travel in convoys, if possible.
Restricted areas
U.S. Government personnel are presently restricted from traveling to the northeastern (Karamoja) districts in Uganda due to cattle rustling, armed banditry, and attacks on vehicles. The Ugandan military continues to implement a program to disarm Karamojong warriors. Past incidents of violence have included local ambushes on military troops, and attacks on vehicles, residences, and towns that resulted in multiple deaths. Most of the violence occurred in the districts of Kaabong, Kotido, and Abim, although some violent incidents also occurred in Moroto and Nakapiripirit Districts. Visitors are advised to avoid travel to the Karamoja region given this insecurity. Any travel to Karamoja (excluding charter flights to Kidepo National Park) by U.S. Embassy personnel must first be authorized by the Chief of Mission.
Further Information
Embassy contact information
U.S. citizens living or traveling in Uganda are encouraged to enroll with the U.S. Embassy in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) on the State Department’s travel information page in order to obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the US Embassy:
US Embassy in Uganda:
Plot 1577 Ggaba Road, P.O. Box 7007, Kampala
Switchboard: +256 414-306-001
Website: <http://kampala.usembassy.gov>
Email: consacs@state.gov
OSAC Country Council
An OSAC Country Council has been established in Uganda. For more information, or for advice and assistance on crime and safety, please contact the Regional Security Office (RSO):
Cellphone: +256-772-200-506
Marine Guard (24 Hours): +256 414-306-001 Ext 6207
Website: <http://kampala.osac.gov>
Email: DS_RSO_Kampala@state.gov