By Teddy Namayanja
The Parliamentary Defense and Internal Affairs Committee has launched an investigation into the functionality of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in Kampala and other major towns across Uganda. This move follows complaints from President Yoweri Museveni over the shs 458 billion CCTV project, which he commissioned in 2017 after the assassination of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Felix Kaweesi.
The CCTV project, aimed at enhancing security and surveillance in public spaces, was launched with great fanfare in March 2018. The government installed over 3,000 cameras in Kampala, Entebbe, and other major towns, with the promise of reducing crime and improving response times to emergencies.
However, nearly five years since its launch, the project has faced numerous challenges, including technical glitches, power outages, and lack of maintenance. President Museveni, who has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the project’s performance, recently expressed his disappointment, citing the cameras’ inability to capture clear footage of criminals and suspects.
The Defense Committee, chaired by Wilson KagyezI, Nyabushoi County MP, has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter.
“The inspection that was done was three years ago, I can confirm to Ugandans that we’re going to carry out fresh inspection of these cameras not only in the Metropolitan city but also other major cities in the country, to establish how they are working, to rule out any gaps and if there’s need for more money. Parliament will then make sure that we appropriate funds to make sure we fight criminality in the country”. He said.
“We want to know what went wrong with this project,” Kagyezi added. “We need to understand why the cameras are not functioning as intended and what measures can be taken to improve their performance.”
The committee has summoned officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Uganda Police Force, and the contractor, Huawei Technologies, to appear before it and explain the current status of the project.
According to sources, the committee will investigate the procurement process, installation, and maintenance of the cameras, as well as the training of personnel to manage the system.
The investigation comes at a time when Uganda is experiencing a surge in crime, including kidnappings, robberies, and murders. The government has been under pressure to improve security, and the CCTV project was seen as a key component of this effort.
As the committee begins its probe, Ugandans are eagerly waiting to see what measures will be taken to address the challenges facing the CCTV project and improve security in the country