Electoral and political offences registered a dramatic increase in 2025, according to the latest report by the Uganda Police Force.
The findings are contained in the 2025 Annual Crime Report, unveiled on Monday at Police Headquarters in Naguru by Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba.
According to the report, a total of 800 electoral and political offence cases were reported in 2025, a sharp rise from just 105 cases recorded in 2024.
This represents an increase of 695 cases, pointing to heightened political activity and tensions during the period.
Police data shows that out of the 800 cases reported, only 194 were taken to court.
Of these, 27 resulted in convictions, 15 were dismissed, while the majority 152 cases are still pending before court.
The report further indicates that 115 cases were not proceeded with, while 491 cases remain under police investigations.
A breakdown of the offences shows that election-related offences accounted for the biggest share, rising significantly to 679 cases in 2025, compared to just 3 cases in 2024.
Cases of incitement to violence also increased slightly from 100 in 2024 to 116 in 2025.
Other offences included promoting sectarianism, which had one case reported in 2025, and treason, with four cases recorded during the year.
Police note that the sharp rise in electoral offences marks a significant shift from previous years, where cases stood at 140 in 2022, 125 in 2023, and dropped to 105 in 2024 before the sudden spike in 2025.
