Internal Affairs Minister, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu

Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, has presented a statement to Parliament outlining new security measures to address rising criminality in several districts, following concerns raised by Members of Parliament over murders, cattle theft and other violent crimes.

The statement, received by Parliament on November 3, 2026, details the security situation in Mubende, Kyegegwa, Bukwo, Mitooma, Ibanda, Sheema, Kagadi, Kazo, Ntungamo, Masaka and Kyankwanzi districts.

According to the minister, Uganda recorded 3,192 homicide cases between January and September 2026, of which 818 were taken to court, 72 were not proceeded with and 2,302 remained under investigation.

A total of 1,184 suspects were arrested and charged in court, including 1,059 men and 125 women. Of those taken to court, nine were convicted, six were discharged, while 1,169 were still awaiting trial.

Kamuntu said the security situation in the country and along its borders remained generally normal, with the reported incidents largely isolated and linked to domestic disputes, land conflicts and property disagreements.

Government steps up security operations

The minister said field inspections and engagements with territorial police commanders and district leaders were conducted on October 4, 2026, following concerns about violent crimes in the affected districts.

The Uganda Police Force subsequently reorganised the deployment of security personnel and operational resources, with an emphasis on preventive and pre-emptive policing.

Intelligence-led operations targeting violent offenders have resulted in arrests of suspected criminal networks in Ibanda, Kazo, Mubende and Masaka, as well as suspected kidnappers in Ntungamo and cattle theft networks in Sheema and Kyankwanzi.

Between June and September 2026, nationwide operations targeting animal and produce theft, burglary and mugging led to the arrest of 22,009 suspects. Of these, 6,875 were taken to court, 5,611 remanded and 329 convicted.

New measures to strengthen security

Government has outlined additional measures to prevent future criminal incidents, including the expansion of CCTV coverage under Phase III of the National CCTV Project to support surveillance, rapid response and evidence collection.

The government also plans to accelerate the Sub-County Policing Model, ensuring every sub-county has 18 police personnel, three motorcycles, a toll-free counter phone and the capacity for intelligence gathering and rapid response.

Other initiatives include strengthening homicide investigations through forensic services, evidence preservation and case-linkage analysis, as well as expediting murder trials in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary.

Government also intends to expand livelihood programmes, including the Parish Development Model, to address economic stress among young people, while mobilising local communities against crime.

The statement further proposes that suspects arrested by security agencies be held in gazetted detention facilities and processed in accordance with Ugandan law.

Kamuntu said the measures were intended to preserve law and order, protect life and property, and strengthen public confidence in the country's security agencies.