Uganda lost an eye-watering Shs1.82 trillion to economic offenses in 2024, as per the new police annual crime report. The staggering amount underlines the emerging danger of corruption, fraud, and other economic crimes in Uganda. In her address on Monday, CID Deputy Director Beata Chelimo disclosed that the funds were lost through corruption, embezzlement, bank crimes, and other scams.

The report stated that 13,132 economic crime cases were reported in 2024, a rise of 1.6% from the 12,000 cases reported in 2023. The rise in economic crimes has been worrying about how efficient the fight against fraud and corruption is in Uganda. Chelimo emphasized that there should be stronger mechanisms in place to prevent such losses, which have a big impact on the country’s economy.

The police report further provided an account of the overall crime in Uganda during 2024. It recorded 218,715 cases of crimes. Out of which, 14,425 were sex offenses, 1,473 were violence in domestic relationship, 29,580 were assault, and 61,529 were property offenses related to theft. The numbers are a grim portrayal of the problems faced by law enforcers as well as the justice system of Uganda.

Financial crimes, however, were the most expensive in monetary terms. The Shs1.82 trillion lost to fraud and corruption could have been used to fund the purchase of essential public facilities such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure investment. It, however, helped the criminals, while the ordinary Ugandan bore the brunt of the losses.

The report has sparked calls for prompt action to address the increasing problem of economic crimes. The government has been urged by experts to strengthen anti-corruption measures, improve financial administration, and bring offenders to justice. If strong action is not taken, the country will lose even more money to corruption and fraud in the forthcoming years.

The police further appealed to citizens to come on board in fighting economic crimes. Chelimo called on people to report crime scenes and support the law enforcers to follow criminals to justice. She underscored the fact that it is a concerted effort from society to fight economic crimes.

The Shs1.82 trillion lost to crime in 2024 is Uganda’s wake-up call. It underscores the importance of having effective mechanisms to curb fraud and corruption and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. As the country grapples with the impact of these crimes, the police report is a reminder of what needs to be done to protect Uganda’s economy and citizens.

In spite of all these, there is hope that with the right interventions and collective efforts, Uganda can reduce the losses to economic crime and forge a safer and more prosperous future for all. The Shs1.82 trillion lost in 2024 is, for now, a bitter reminder of the cost of doing nothing and the need for change.