The Uganda Police Force (UPF) requires an additional US$62 million to implement Phase III of the national CCTV project.
This disclosure was made by Police Undersecretary Aggrey Wunyi while appearing before the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Tuesday, 11 March 2025. Wunyi stated that the project is currently in the planning and budget approval phase.
The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. David Muhoozi, led the police delegation to the committee meeting, accompanied by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba.
According to the minister, Phases I and II of the national CCTV system are operating at an efficiency level between 85 to 95 per cent, with some districts achieving full functionality. Muhoozi further noted that the system has covered all 19 policing divisions of the Kampala Metropolitan Area, as well as municipalities such as Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kisoro, Arua, Gulu, Iganga, and Jinja.
Other towns that have benefited from the system include Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Kasese, Fort Portal, Mubende, Mityana, Hoima, Masindi, Kitgum, Lira, Soroti, Moroto, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Tororo, and Kamuli.
“Since the system was launched in 2018, a total of 42,417 operational and intelligence-driven incidents have been addressed, with 6,688 cases undergoing comprehensive investigations using recorded footage,” said Muhoozi.
He explained that Phase III aims to address shortcomings from earlier phases by increasing camera coverage to eliminate blind spots, introducing body-worn cameras for officers, and enhancing the data centre’s capacity to accommodate rising storage and processing needs.
“The system must remain functional since UPF has recruited skilled IT professionals and engineers to maintain it. What is required is continuous training on new system upgrades,” Muhoozi added.
However, legislators raised concerns about the reliability of the CCTV cameras.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, inquired about the system’s capability to function efficiently during nationwide power outages.
“We have witnessed cases where the national power grid fails. Does this affect camera operations, or do they have the capability to keep running during such incidents? Is this issue widespread across the country?” Kajwengye asked.
Hon. Peter Okeyoh (NRM, Bukooli Island County) pressed UPF leadership on measures taken to prevent vandalism of CCTV equipment, particularly during roadworks and other construction activities.
Kagoma North County MP, Hon. Kintu Brandon, sought clarification on whether footage from privately owned CCTV cameras can be integrated into the national surveillance system.
“We have cameras installed in private establishments like supermarkets, bars, hotels, and residential premises. How do you incorporate footage from these into your main CCTV centre when investigating crimes?” Kintu asked.
Muhoozi clarified that private CCTV cameras are not directly linked to the national surveillance network.
“We only rely on voluntarily shared footage from private cameras. Additionally, there is no legal framework in place to regulate private surveillance systems and how their footage can be incorporated into the national grid, as privacy concerns must be considered,” Muhoozi explained.
To curb vandalism, he stated that CCTV cameras are installed on poles fitted with spikes to discourage individuals from attempting to tamper with them.
The UPF Director for ICT, Felix Baryamwisaki, assured legislators that the CCTV system is designed to mitigate disruptions caused by power inconsistencies.
“The camera sites have backup power lasting up to eight hours. If a blackout extends beyond that period, we may experience disruptions. However, the central monitoring centres remain operational as they have longer-lasting power backup,” said Baryamwisaki.
He further noted that electricity supply in urban areas has significantly improved, with outages rarely exceeding four hours. He also revealed plans to install solar power systems at CCTV locations in areas prone to prolonged power failures.
