CID Pushes for Integrated Crime Data System and Digital Investigations

What the report says

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Uganda is calling for government databases to be better integrated so investigators can access and compare information more quickly. According to Nile Post, CID Director Tom Magambo said the move is needed because criminals are increasingly using digital platforms and emerging technologies to carry out offences, making faster and more connected investigative tools more important.

Magambo made the comments after the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs visited CID facilities to review the directorate’s operations, infrastructure and ability to handle crime investigations. He said the inspection gave lawmakers a clearer picture of the practical challenges investigators face. One of the main concerns raised was that information is spread across several separate systems, which slows down case work and makes cross-checking records more difficult.

The CID chief said any effort to merge databases would need broader discussion on legal and policy issues, not just technical fixes. He also said the directorate is expanding its digital investigation capacity as crime becomes more technology-driven, including through online spaces and artificial intelligence. The report adds that the CID Crime Data Centre is under development and is now expected to reach a new completion target by March next year after earlier delays. The push matters because more connected data systems could improve the speed and effectiveness of criminal investigations in Uganda.