Citizens urged to take active role in community policing as crime remains a concern

12 March 2026, 4:19 pm

Byamukama Alozious

Security officials and community leaders have called for stronger collaboration between citizens, the media and law enforcement agencies to strengthen public safety, emphasizing that fighting crime is a shared responsibility that goes beyond the police force.

Speaking during a media engagement on the role of citizens in promoting public safety, the Chief Political Commissar of the Uganda Police Force, SP Dr. Kayongo Aisha, said community policing has increasingly become central in efforts to prevent and respond to crime across the country.

She noted that although the police continue to strengthen response mechanisms, crime prevention largely depends on the participation of communities.

“We are happy to have this interaction because our core theme is about the role of citizens in combating crime. When we talk about community policing, we mean initiatives that help police engage directly with communities so that together we can prevent and respond to crime,” Kayongo said.

Her remarks come at a time when Uganda has in recent months witnessed growing public concern over urban crime, including robberies and cases of violence against women in some parts of the country, incidents that have sparked wider conversations about public safety and the role communities can play in preventing crime.

According to the Annual Crime Report 2024 released by the Uganda Police Force, the country registered 218,715 criminal cases in 2024, down from 228,074 cases recorded in 2023, representing a 4.1 percent reduction in reported crimes nationwide.

Despite the overall decline, the report shows that crimes such as theft, assault, domestic violence and sexual offences remain among the most commonly reported offences.

The report further indicates that the Rwizi region registered the highest number of cases with 17,105 incidents, followed by Kampala Metropolitan North and North Kyoga regions, highlighting areas where police say stronger community engagement is needed to curb crime.

Kayongo said the police are now placing greater emphasis on preventive approaches such as neighborhood watch initiatives, local security committees and the sub-county policing model, which aims to bring police services closer to communities.

She stressed that the Constitution also empowers citizens to work with law enforcement in maintaining law and order.

“In many cases, people think they must wait for police to respond to every incident, yet the Constitution allows citizens to work in partnership with security agencies. That partnership is not only about meetings but also about responsibility in protecting our communities,” she said.

Kayongo added that citizens can play a critical role through timely reporting of suspicious activities, participating in community meetings, and supporting local security structures including village committees and neighborhood watch groups.

The police also highlighted the growing role of the media and digital platforms in strengthening community policing, saying information dissemination can help communities respond quickly to threats and improve coordination between citizens and law enforcement agencies.

“Media plays a very big role in information sharing. When incidents are reported quickly and accurately, communities become more alert and security agencies are able to respond faster,” Kayongo said.

Civil society actors who attended the engagement also emphasized the need for communities to take responsibility for their own safety, particularly in the face of rising cases of domestic violence and gender-based crimes.

Nabateregga Zaituni, Executive Director of Busuro Youth and Women’s Initiative, said crime prevention should start at the household and neighborhood level.

“Sometimes our neighbors see warning signs but keep quiet until something bad happens. It should become part of our culture that when you suspect danger or violence, you speak out and alert others,” she said.

Zaituni added that community vigilance, including knowing who lives within neighborhoods and reporting unusual movements, can help prevent crimes such as femicide, burglary and assault.

Security officials say community policing initiatives also include specialized structures such as child and family protection units, community liaison officers and prison outreach programs that aim to strengthen trust between the public and law enforcement agencies.

Police officials say the continued involvement of citizens, local leaders, civil society organizations and the media will be key in ensuring safer communities as Uganda seeks to further reduce crime through prevention-based policing strategies.