The implementation of part III of the nationwide CCTV mission by the Uganda Police Force (UPF) would require an extra US$62 million.
This revelation was made by the Undersecretary of the Police Aggrey Wunyi whereas showing earlier than the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Tuesday, 11 March 2025.
Wunyi stated that the mission remains to be on the design and funds solicitation stage.
The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. David Muhoozi led members of the drive to the assembly of the committee. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba accompanied the minister.
The minister added that the already carried out part I and II of the nationwide CCTV system is acting at a mean starting from 85 per cent to 95 per cent with some districts reaching 100 per cent efficiency.
Muhoozi added that the system has up to now coated all of the 19 Kampala Metropolitan policing divisions and all municipalities together with Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kisoro, Arua, Gulu, Iganga and Jinja.
The different municipalities coated embrace Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Kasese, Fort Portal, Mubende, Mityana, Hoima, Masindi, Kitgum, Lira, Soroti, Moroto, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Tororo and Kamuli.
“Since implementation of the system in 2018, 42,417 operational and intelligence led incidents have been managed and 6,688 instances have undergone thorough investigation utilizing the footage captured,” stated Muhoozi.
He stated part III of the mission seeks to shut the gaps recognized within the preliminary phases by rising digital camera density to cut back blind spots, introduce body-worn cameras for cops and improve the capability of the information centre to assist rising storage and processing wants.
“The system has to maintain working as a result of UPF recruited certified IT personnel and engineers to do upkeep of the system. Only steady coaching on new upgrades of the system is required,” Muhoozi added.
Legislators nevertheless, queried the effectiveness of the CCTV cameras.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye requested concerning the skill of the cameras to function effectively throughout energy outages affecting totally different components of the nation.
“We have had incidences the place the primary grid goes off. Does that have an effect on your cameras or do the cameras have capability to maintain working regardless of such challenges? Is this additionally the case all through the nation?” Kajwengye requested.
Hon. Peter Okeyoh (NRM, Bukooli Island County) tasked the UPF management to offer the measures being taken to vandalism of CCTV methods within the discipline, together with throughout development works like highway upkeep.
Kagoma North County MP, Hon. Kintu Brandon requested concerning the feasibility of the nationwide CCTV system in incorporating footage captured personal CCTV cameras.
“We have cameras put in in personal locations like supermarkets, bars, motels or houses. How do you hyperlink them to your most important CCTV centre in instances of crimes the place you have to examine their footage?” Kintu requested.
Muhoozi clarified that the nationwide system will not be related to the personal CCTV cameras.
“We solely use volunteer info from these with private cameras. We additionally wouldn’t have a authorized regime that governs personal cameras and the way they’ll supply enter within the nationwide grid of cameras, as a result of there are privateness points concerned,” Muhoozi stated.
To deal with vandalism, Muhoozi famous that CCTV cameras are mounted on poles coated with spikes to discourage individuals from climbing to destroy the digital camera methods.
The UPF Director for ICT, Felix Baryamwisaki stated the CCTV system has sturdy provisions to handle the inconsistencies of energy provide.
“The digital camera websites have energy backup of as much as eight hours. If the primary grid goes off past that, we get affected however the primary monitoring centres stay operational as a result of they’ve longer backup hours,” stated Baryamwisaki.
He added that energy entry in cities has tremendously improved with energy outages of no more than 4 hours including that there are plans to put in photo voltaic methods at CCTV websites in areas with lengthy energy outages.
