The Parliamentary Defense Committee is set to assess the functionality of CCTV cameras in Kampala. This comes in response to concerns raised by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni regarding the non-operational status of many cameras in the Kampala Capital City during the two-day annual coordination meeting between the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at CID headquarters in Kibuli which took place on September 5, 2024.
The CCTV camera installation project launched in 2017 cost over UGX 458 billion and this was after the tragic murder of the former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi on March 17, 2017, in Kisasi, a Kampala suburb.
The Chairperson of Defense and Internal Affairs Committee who doubles as the MP for Nyabushozi county, Wilson Kajwengye, while speaking to the media on September 12, 2024, said that the CCTV Cameras form an integral part in the fight against criminality not only in Kampala city but all cities in the country.
He said that due to the escalation in crime, President Museveni directed that cameras be put in strategic places.
“After the Presidential directive, Parliament appropriated a budget to establish cameras and a parliamentary committee on defense and internal affairs inspected Kampala and went as far as Masindi, Hoima and other cities,” Kajwengye said.
Kajwengye noted that the President complained about the ineffectiveness of the cameras, which complaints can’t be ignored.
“The last inspection on the cameras was done three years ago and fresh inspections are going to be carried out not only in the metropolitan Kampala but also in other cities across the country to establish how they are working and rule out any gaps.
He further called for appropriation of more funds by the parliament if need arises in order to fight criminality in Uganda.
