Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2015

Crime Rating: Critical

Crime Threats

A comparative analysis of figures from various police/security entities reflects a continuation of the trend in which incidents of crimes are inaccurately or under-reported. The under-reporting is due in large part to insufficient police presence and response capabilities and public perceptions of police investigative abilities. Many communities do not have the means to report crimes, though most experts agree that crime is generally low in provincial towns and rural areas. In addition, when crimes are reported they are not adequately documented in any sort of standardized reporting format.

Crime can occur anywhere and at anytime. Americans are not singled out as victims of crime. Victimization by criminals is based upon the perception of the victim’s affluence and whether s/he presents an appealing “target of opportunity.” Common crimes are generally crimes of opportunity rather than planned attacks. These include, but are not limited to: thefts from vehicles, thefts of property from residences, residential break-ins, strong-armed robberies, pickpocketing, and theft from hotel rooms.

There has also been an increase in financial fraud cases involving credit cards, personal checks, and counterfeiting. Skimming, which is a practice to capture personal identification information from ATM terminals, has increased in the region recently.

Petty street crime (vehicle robberies, vandalism), increased in 2014 despite a continued high deployment of police in the metropolitan areas. The U.S. Embassy has also observed, and several U.S. Embassy employees have experienced, an increase in petty crimes during 2014. Pick pocketing, snatch-and-grab thefts (from occupied and unoccupied vehicles), and vehicle vandalism along with other petty, opportunistic crimes were the primary types of activities reported in Kampala. These crimes rarely involve acts of violence.

Crimes that result in violence sometimes occur when the victim attempts to resist the assailant. However, an increase in armed robbery and sexual assaults were also observed. The U.S. Embassy received reports of murders, shootings, and sexual assaults occurring in proximity to areas where U.S. citizens congregate/reside. Additionally, there were two outbreaks of violent crime sprees in northern Uganda during the early part of 2014. Gulu was beset with violent crime where boda boda (motorcycle taxis) drivers were being killed on almost a daily basis by unknown thugs. Lira also experienced a wave of violent crime against business owners that prompted the Inspector General of Police to replace the police leadership in the city and to personally travel to the town to relieve the angst.

Uganda does not have large organized crime elements. Organized crime appears more frequently in the form of small, organized, criminal activity, such as that of individuals involved in home invasions, rather than in large-scale racketeering. Human trafficking syndicates provide fraudulent identification for intending illegal immigrants to the European Union, but the volume is likely small. Uganda signed legislation against money laundering in October 2013, but it will likely take several months or more before the bureaucratic structures are in place to fully implement the bill.

Cyber

Sophisticated crimes like computer and credit card fraud are becoming more frequent, and it stands to reason that identity theft will follow.

Areas of Concern

Karamoja is the only area restricted for travel for Embassy personnel because of logistical difficulties posed by harsh travel conditions and the lawlessness of the region. The prevalence of guns and cross border raids between tribes is a constant issue. The U.S. Embassy has relaxed its travel policy but still requires two vehicle convoys and personal or vehicle armor when traveling in the region.

Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to any remote area of the country, including the borders with DRC and South Sudan.

Transportation-Safety Situation

Road Safety and Road Conditions

U.S. citizens will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the West. The information below is provided for general reference only and may not apply in all circumstances.

Driving requires particular caution and fulltime attention. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities per vehicle in the world. Roads are poorly maintained, inadequately marked, and poorly illuminated. Street signs are also lacking in certain areas, adding confusion to the casual traveler. Road travel outside Kampala is dangerous during the day and treacherous at night. It is Embassy policy that no official U.S. citizens are authorized to travel on roads outside of the Kampala/Entebbe metropolitan area after dark. The road lighting in larger cities is inadequate at best and virtually nonexistent in smaller towns.

Driving hazards at night include: broken-down vehicles in the road, pedestrians in the road, drunk drivers, stray animals, poor road conditions, and the possibility of armed robbery. Under normal driving conditions, drivers contend with excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians/livestock in the roadway, commuter bus drivers who ignore traffic laws, and vehicles that are not roadworthy (including lack of brake/indicator lights). While general vehicle travel during daylight hours on both paved and unpaved roads is considered relatively safe, varying conditions of the roadways (including numerous potholes) combined with excessive speed can lead to serious accidents. In some areas, piles of trash, missing manhole covers, gaping ditches/potholes, wayward/oblivious pedestrians, and animals are threats to vehicular safety on the streets.

There have been occasional 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.

In the market areas, vendors have taken over the sidewalks and in some cases much of the roadway, forcing pedestrians into the streets.

In rural areas, drivers should expect a lack of guard rails and few traffic signs/road markings. Drivers should use caution at bends, as it is common for vehicles coming from the other direction to pass slower vehicles or otherwise drive in the middle of the road, even around blind turns. People traveling outside of Kampala should do so during daylight hours if possible, and in tandem with one or more other vehicles due to both the security situation and road conditions. Travelers should educate drivers and other staff to maintain safe driving speeds and never encourage or condone risky passing on Uganda’s roadways.

The UPF’s efforts to improve road safety have been minimal at best. Police enforcement of road safety and traffic laws is minimal but appears to be improving. The general lack of an immediate police/emergency response to traffic accident scenes often results in delayed emergency service response. As a result, accident victims rely on bystanders as first responders. For this reason and considering the lack of adequate medical care in the majority of districts in Uganda, travelers should maintain equipment and training needed to perform first aid. Finally, accidents can draw angry, potentially violent crowds in a very short period. It is recommended that anyone involved in an accident immediately notify the police.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 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.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

While Uganda is generally viewed as a safe, secure, and politically stable country, 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), posing a potential risk along Uganda’s western border. The northern border with South Sudan has a limited security presence, and recent events in South Sudan have exacerbated an already challenging security situation. The remoteness of the border with Kenya makes it difficult to police, although main roads and border crossings may have a consistent police presence. That said, the government has demonstrated an increased capability to combat terrorist and criminal threats.

Most communities in northern Uganda have returned to relative normalcy following 23 years of insurgency at the hands of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that ended in 2006.

Political Violence Rating: Medium

Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns

The largest international terrorist threat comes from the Somali al-Shabaab and al-Qai’da East Africa (AQEA). The threat stems in part from Uganda’s support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The twin suicide bombings in July 2010 in Kampala, in which 76 people were killed, was al-Shabaab’s first successful operation outside of Somalia and showed that al-Shabaab was ready, willing, and able to launch attacks outside of Somalia. Al-Shabaab has vowed to continue to attack the interests and citizens of countries supporting AMISOM, to include Uganda and the U.S. The threat posed by al-Qai’da and al-Shabaab to Uganda will continue for the foreseeable future, and the 2013 terrorist attacks at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, and the al-Shabaab cell that was disrupted in the midst of an immindent attack in Kampala on September 13, 2014, are stark reminders that the threat is ever present.

Regional terror organizations continue to threaten Uganda and the region. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), originally a Uganda-based rebel group, now operates in eastern DRC. In 2007, the ADF made incursions into western Uganda along the Muzizi River, near Semliki National Park in Bundibugyo District. A military response by the government resulted in the killing or capture of ADF fighters. The government, which believes the ADF has links to Muslim extremists, continues to monitor the group closely.

Terrorism Rating: High

Civil Unrest

The threat of civil unrest, public protests, strikes, demonstrations, and political violence have been an issue. Politically- or economically-motivated demonstrations can surface with little/no warning. Opposition protests continued into 2014, highlighted by the sacking of Prime Minister Mbabazi. Protests revolved around power struggles between ruling and opposition parties, students protesting school fees, taxi drivers protesting taxation, and those fighting over land rights issues.

Demonstrations occasionally take place in response to world events or local conditions. These demonstrations can often escalate if police response is not swift and appropriate. It is advisable to avoid demonstrations if possible and to leave the area.

Staying current with media coverage of local events, continually evaluating one’s surroundings, and planning to avoid problem areas will usually mitigate these risks. Developing communication strategies on security issues with local staff can provide an early warning system for demonstrations.

Religious/Ethnic Violence

Uganda is predominantly Christian; approximately 15 percent of the population is Muslim. While the potential for religiously-motivated protests exists, they did not occur on a large scale in 2014. However, 2014 was capped off with the murders of two prominent Muslim Sheiks in Kampala and the drive-by shooting of another. Theories abound of the causes, but most reputable reporting suggests that the murders were motivated by property disputes and power over the community.

Uganda experienced a major conflict between two tribes in the west in July 2014 that left over 90 people dead and several more wounded. The conflict spanned over a large swath of land from Lake Albert to Kasese District, covering over 120 kilometers.

Post-specific Concerns

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. 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 whims of the weather. For most of the year, these households have little/no cash to purchase food or other essentials, nor do they have any assets to sell. They typically cultivate very small plots of land and own very few livestock.

Critical Infrastructure Concerns

Regulations for the processing and transportation of dangerous chemicals do not meet U.S. standards and could pose a risk. In addition, training and equipment available to emergency response teams remain inadequate to deal with a major catastrophe.

Economic Espionage/Intellectual Property Thefts

Intellectual property theft is pervasive with respect to digital media and similar products. Ugandan-based NGOs reported several break-ins in which pertinent data and computers were stolen from their offices, this coming off the heels of the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill last summer.

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. Additionally, counterfeit U.S. currency is appearing at a growing rate. Specifically, $50 notes are being expertly counterfeited and passed in large quantities in Kampala and around tourist destinations.

Privacy Concerns

Identity theft and privacy issues have not yet become a major concern in Uganda. Discarded papers are sometimes collected and sold in bundles in the city market, making possible the exploitation of personal information. Organizations and individuals should take measures to protect personally identifiable information and sensitive records. Shredding of sensitive documents and records is always advisable.

Drug-related Crimes

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 Uganda is increasing. Illicit narcotics transit Uganda for markets in Africa, Europe, and the U.S., primarily due to Uganda’s good airline connections between those markets and Asia. Cannabis is grown throughout Uganda and is rarely policed, allowing for large cannabis crops to flourish in remote rural areas. 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.

Kidnapping Threat

U.S. citizens have not been targeted specifically for kidnapping. In September 2008, a group of NGO workers was taken just south of Arua (in West Nile) into the DRC and held for six hours before being released. In 2013, the U.S. Embassy received one report of a U.S. citizen being the victim of a kidnapping. After being held for ransom for less than one day, the U.S. citizen was rescued by the Uganda Police Force.

Police Response

The Uganda Police Force (UPF) maintains heavy police deployments in metropolitan areas, specifically Kampala, to thwart criminal and terrorist activities. They are making efforts to “right size” their deployment and deploy more officers outside the metropolitan area. While the UPF has made significant strides towards professionalization and modernization, lack of resources and discipline problems, such as corruption and human rights violations, still plague the UPF.

U.S. citizens are subject to the host country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the U.S. 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 U.S. Persons violating Uganda’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Ugandan law strictly prohibits photographing police/military personnel/installations, industrial facilities, government buildings, and infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams, airfields); sites are rarely marked clearly. Guides, police, and officials can advise if a particular site may be photographed. Photographing prohibited sites may result in the confiscation of film and camera and being questioned by authorities.

Crime Victim Assistance

If you become the victim of a crime or lose your passport, you should contact the local police and the U.S. Embassy. Embassy staff can help you find appropriate medical care if needed, contact family members or friends, and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is 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 is “999,” but the emergency response is not equivalent to an emergency response in the U.S. Generally, reporting a crime directly to the nearest police station will result in a quicker emergency response than relying on dialing “999.”

Police/Security Agencies

General Duty Police is the largest police presence and is tasked with providing general law and order functions. General Duty police maintain most of the various police posts and are the operational arm of the UPF.

There are many other units within the UPF: the Counter Terrorism Police, VIP Protection Unit, Criminal Intelligence Division, Forensics Division, Traffic Police, Marine Police, Tourism Police and newly created Fuel Police who guard the oil exploration sites in western Uganda. These units fill specific functions and perform limited duties related to their specialty.

Other security elements include the Internal Security Organization, which is the equivalent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Special Forces Command, which is a paramilitary unit that provides protective security to the president and other Cabinet-level officials.

Medical Emergencies

Health facilities are very limited and are generally inadequate outside Kampala. 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.

Contact Information for Recommended Hospitals/Clinics

International Hospital Kampala, 24 Namuwongo, Kampala, 0312 200 400
The Surgery, Naguru, Kampala, 0414 256 003, Mobile 0772 256 003, Emergency Service (Mobile) 0752 756 003, Ambulance Service 0772 756 003.
Nakasero Hospital, 14 Akii-Bua Road, Nakasero, Kampala, 0414 346 150/2. Website: www.nakaserohospital.com

Recommended Air Ambulance Services

Serious illnesses and injuries often require travelers to be medically evacuated 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 U.S.$40,000).

Recommended Insurance Posture

The State Department strongly urges U.S. 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.

CDC Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

Ebola outbreaks in the Kibale district and Luwero district claimed approximately 26 lives in 2012. In addition, there have been cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the Kabale district, resulting in 15 deaths. The most recent case occurred in October 2014 that resulted in the death of a man in Kampala from Marburg hemorrhagic fever. The swift response controlled the spread of the virus, and no other deaths occurred. Cases of black plague occurred during 2012 but on a smaller scale and isolated to upcountry villages with poor sanitation and access to medical care. In 2013, there were three confirmed cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Government management of these outbreaks has been impressive, but travelers should be aware of the heightened threat posed by infectious diseases. Monitoring the press and following commonsense instructions on the Department of State and CDC websites for dealing with infectious diseases can significantly mitigate, if not eliminate, your risk of exposure.

Malaria is prevalent, 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-malarial medicine they have been taking.

Travelers should also avoid swimming in any bodies of water. All 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 recurrences continue to exist in both urban and rural settings.

For additional information on vaccines and health guidance, please visit the CDC at:http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/uganda.

Tips on How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Situational Awareness Best Practices

U.S. citizens should exercise caution when visiting crowded areas such as large open-air trading markets. Walking alone after dark is not advisable.

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 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. Visitors should conduct money transactions at brick and mortar banks, as opposed to stand alone ATMs in a mall or hotel. Visitors should set up alerts on their travel cards that include specific dates of travel to avoid incurring fraudulent charges beyond the travel period.

Visitors are strongly advised to review their personal safety and security posture, to remain vigilant, and lower their public profile when frequenting public places and landmarks. Visitors are advised to be cautious 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 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 pickpockets.

U.S. Embassy Location and Contact Information

Embassy Address and Hours of Operation

Plot 1577 Ggaba Road, P.O. Box 7007, Kampala

Embassy Contact Numbers

Switchboard: +256 414-306-001
Cellphone: +256-772-200-506
Marine Guard (24 Hours): +256 414-306-001 Ext 6207
Website: http://kampala.usembassy.gov
American Citizen Services email: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov
RSO email: DS_RSO_Kampala@state.gov

Embassy Guidance

Entry 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.

OSAC Country Council Information

An OSAC Country Council has been established. For more information or for advice and assistance on crime and safety, please contact the Regional Security Office (RSO). To reach OSAC’s Africa team, please email OSACAF@state.gov.