The Uganda Police Force (UPF) is embarking on phase III of the national CCTV project, which will require an additional US$62 million for implementation. This was revealed by Undersecretary of the Police, Aggrey Wunyi, during a meeting with the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs. The project is currently in the design and budget solicitation stage.
State Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. David Muhoozi, along with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba, attended the committee meeting to discuss the progress of the project. Muhoozi highlighted that phase I and II of the national CCTV system have been successful, with coverage in all 19 Kampala Metropolitan policing divisions and various municipalities across the country.
Since its implementation in 2018, the CCTV system has managed 42,417 operational and intelligence-led incidents, leading to thorough investigations of 6,688 cases. Phase III aims to enhance the system by increasing camera density, introducing body-worn cameras for police officers, and improving the data center’s capacity for storage and processing needs.
Despite the system’s success, legislators raised concerns about its effectiveness during power outages and vandalism. Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, questioned the system’s ability to operate during power failures, while Hon. Peter Okeyoh inquired about measures to prevent vandalism. Additionally, Hon. Kintu Brandon asked about integrating footage from private CCTV cameras into the national system.
Muhoozi clarified that private CCTV cameras are not connected to the national system due to privacy concerns. To address vandalism, CCTV cameras are mounted on poles with spikes to deter tampering. UPF Director for ICT, Felix Baryamwisaki, assured that the system has backup power for up to eight hours and plans to install solar systems in areas with prolonged outages.
The discussion highlighted the need for continuous training on system upgrades and addressing challenges such as power outages and vandalism. The integration of private CCTV footage remains a topic for further consideration due to privacy issues. The UPF is committed to enhancing the national CCTV system to improve public safety and law enforcement efforts.
This article has been rewritten from a press release by the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda and distributed by APO Group.
