The Uganda Police Force is making a bold move, requesting a staggering UGX 200 billion to roll out Phase 3 of its Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project.
The funds, officials say, are critical to plug glaring gaps in surveillance across cities, highways, and emerging municipalities.
The revelation came during a high-stakes meeting with the Parliamentary Defense Committee, where top brass, including Inspector General of Police (IGP) Byakagaba Abbas and State Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. David Muhoozi, laid bare the challenges crippling the system.
“We Need a Legal Framework Now”: Police Sound Alarm
While the financial ask is massive, officials argue the real bottleneck lies in the lack of a robust legal framework. Aggrey Wunyi, the Force’s accounting officer, stressed that without clear laws, the CCTV system remains hamstrung.
“Existing laws are insufficient,” said Minister Muhoozi, citing instances where police struggled to access footage from private cameras due to legal ambiguities. “We need a framework that empowers us to operate effectively.”
Illegal Footage Sales Exposed: Minister Muhoozi Vows Crackdown
In a shocking admission, Muhoozi addressed allegations of police officers charging the public for CCTV footage.
“This practice is illegal and unacceptable,” he declared, emphasizing that it violates the Force’s code of conduct.
The Minister warned that officers caught selling footage would face severe consequences, as the Force works to restore public trust in its operations.
What’s Next for Uganda’s Surveillance System?
With Phase 3 of the CCTV project on the horizon, the Uganda Police Force is at a crossroads. The requested UGX 200 billion could transform the nation’s security landscape—but only if paired with a watertight legal framework.
As debates heat up in Parliament, one thing is clear: Uganda’s surveillance ambitions hinge on both funding and the rule of law.
