UNAFRI Hosts Courtesy Visit by CID Deputy Director to Explore Capacity Building Partnership

On Monday, 15th June 2026, the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI) received a courtesy visit from Ms. Beata Chelimo, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of the Uganda Police Force. The engagement focused on exploring strategic collaboration in capacity building and specialized training for crime investigation personnel.

Strengthening Institutional Collaboration in Crime Prevention

The visit underscored a shared commitment between UNAFRI and the CID to strengthen institutional capacity in responding to evolving crime trends across Uganda and the wider African region. Discussions centered on enhancing investigative competencies, improving professional standards, and aligning training frameworks with contemporary challenges in criminal justice systems.

Ms. Chelimo highlighted the importance of continuous professional development for investigators, particularly in areas such as financial crime, cybercrime, and complex transnational offenses. She noted that partnerships with regional institutions such as UNAFRI would play a critical role in enhancing investigative effectiveness and operational readiness.

UNAFRI’s Mandate and Strategic Role

In line with its mandate established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in April 1989, UNAFRI continues to support African Member States in advancing crime prevention, criminal justice reform, and the treatment of offenders. The Institute serves as a regional hub for research, training, and policy development aimed at strengthening justice systems and promoting the rule of law.

The discussions reaffirmed UNAFRI’s role as a key technical partner in developing training programmes tailored to law enforcement agencies, particularly in emerging areas of criminal justice practice.

Areas of Proposed Collaboration

The meeting explored several potential areas of partnership, including:

• Joint training programmes for criminal investigators and law enforcement officers

• Curriculum development for specialized investigative skills

• Capacity building in cybercrime and digital evidence management

• Strengthening forensic investigation methodologies

• Knowledge exchange and applied research in crime trends and criminal justice responses

Both parties emphasized the importance of aligning training initiatives with regional realities and leveraging evidence-based approaches to improve investigative outcomes.

Commitment to Future Engagement

The courtesy visit concluded with a mutual understanding to further develop a structured framework for collaboration. This is expected to guide future joint activities, including training workshops, technical exchanges, and research collaborations between UNAFRI and the CID.