Uganda, Feb. 22 -- Ugandans lost cash and valuable assets worth Shs1.8 trillion to criminals in 2023, up from Shs859b the year before, despite overall crime prevalence declining by 1.5 percent last year.

It is unclear if the figures contained in the 2023 Uganda Police Force (UPF) annual crime report released yesterday mean more cash or asset-related criminal activities, or victims, or fewer commissions involving bigger amounts of money and valuables.

READ: Crime down by 1.5 percent

The law enforcement agency recovered Shs80b out of the Shs1.8 trillion lost.

The crime of obtaining money by false pretence was the biggest contributor to the losses, accounting for Shs723b, pointing to handiwork of scammers (locally christened bafere) that...