The Uganda Police Force is looking to employ over 2,000 Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs – also known as crime scene investigators or CSIs) and exhibit analysts to handle increasing crime rates in the country.
The revelation was made by Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS), boss Andrew Mubiru.
This comes as the Police records show a slight increase in crime reported in 2021 compared to 2020 standing at 196,081 and 195,931 respectively.
The forensic examinations majorly rotate on DNA analysis for suspects in murder, robbery, burglary, theft, and defilement cases. Other forensic examinations are for corruption-related cases, forgeries, and fraud.
Mubiru says despite the number of forensic scientists increasing from 264 to 611 in the last two years, there is still a huge dent in the sector.
He says President Yoweri Museveni advised a complete police team in every Sub-county that includes at least 12 police officers at each sub-county including one skilled in collecting exhibits at crime scenes, packing them very well, and ensuring that they are not tampered with or contaminated.
Mubiru said Museveni guided the police force to focus on having police officers that are able to handle situations in all sub-counties.
Police records show that there are 2,640 sub-counties and urban divisions in Uganda, meaning if each is to have a forensic scientist, the directorate of forensic science would need the same number of experts.
Mubiru explains that the 611 currently employed leave a deficit of 2,029 forensic scientists
