President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to construct a Crime Data Forensics Center to provide quick and timely information on crime in Uganda.

The President made the pledge on September 5, 2024, during the first annual coordination meeting between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) at the CID offices in Kibuli.

He stressed the importance of embracing technology to provide answers to problems police face in carrying out investigations.

“We are going to construct a data and forensic center. Make use of technology in fighting crime to get technical solutions,“ the president emphasized.

He further stressed the need for the use of digital number plates to curb crime, saying this would slow down the work of criminals who want to use cars and motorcycles.

The President was responding to a request by the Director of Criminal Investigations, Tom Magambo, who reported about how criminals have moved their activities to cyberspace.

“Criminals have moved their activities to cyberspace. While we continue to utilize the human intelligence sources, we need the following: digitization building capacity, and tapping on the databases so that we can quicken our investigations,” Magambo noted.

“We would like to ask you to help us establish a crime data analysis centre because CID produces the Annual Crime Report. We have been trying to improve on the process of getting this crime data in time and utilize it to make decision-making,” Magambo added.

Magambo also reported to the President on how officers in CID have stayed in the same position for the last twelve years without moving a rank.

Over 620 participants, comprising of investigators, prosecutors, and key stakeholders, attended the meeting to discuss and align their efforts towards a common goal of fighting crime.

The meeting was attended by several dignitaries, like Ministers Jim Muhwezi and Kahinda Otafire, the Inspector General of the Uganda Police Force, Abbas Bakanga, the Director of the ODPP, Abodo Jane Frances, and the Director Generals of ESO and ISO, among others.