Germany private security companies seek Uganda partnerships

 

  

KAMPALA - Thirteen private security companies from Germany, including a representative from the country's federal ministry for economic affairs and energy are in Kampala.

 

The companies are seeking partnerships with local firms to boost trade as well as improve E-security awareness to undermine ‘sophisticated' crime and terror acts.

 

The companies met with Ugandan firms at a conference,held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Monday to showcase assortments of security features the local counterparts might be interested in.

 

The firms are organised by the delegation of German industry and commerce in Kenya (AHK Kenya), as part of the European country's civil security technologies and services export initiative.

 

They will be in Uganda to the end of June.

 

Maren Diale-Schellschmidt, the director of the delegation, said the companies will explore security sectors in Uganda and determine whether they can forge partnerships with local firms.

 

They also have interest in border and infrastructure security, with a bias in Oil and Gas, ports and aviation.

 

Petra Kochendörfer, the Chargé d'Affaires at the embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Uganda, said Germany enjoyed good relations with Uganda, and they were looking at hallmarking the ties with security partnerships.

 

The 13 companies are actively engaged in the security sector, providing innovative security technologies, services, solutions and products in the area of civil security.

 

For the period the companies will be in Uganda, they will seek to attain insight of the Ugandan market and to expand business relations into the country; potentially establishing first business relationships and joint ventures.

Managing director Tight Security, Mohammed Allibhai (left) interacts with The Ugandan Private Security Industry Association (TUPSA), Moses Mutalaga (centre) as Ronny Mulongo (right) looks on during a conference on Civil Security Technologies and Services at Sheraton Hotel Kampala. (Credit:Juliet Kasirye)

 

During the opening conference at the Sheraton, some of the companies, including Communication Intelligence and Security Solution, Airbus, showcased some sophisticated and new security features which can help avert potential crime related to airports and airlines.

 

Hilmar Tippelskirch, the managing director for Brandmeister Vertriebs GmbH, displayed mini fire extinguishers, and how the ‘simple but effective' gadgets can put out fires in domestic settings.  

 

Mohamed Allibhai, from the Ugandan Tight Security, said he looked forward to the partnerships — which had potential to turn around security atmospheres in the country.

 

He hinted; natures of crime in the country were evolving from petty, to much vicious atrocities not limited to terrorism, kidnaps, murder et al.

 

"We need to get more and more electronic security," he said, referencing that the input from the Germans (to combat crime) would come in handy. 

 

"Persons are starting to appreciate CCTV cameras and other Wi-Fi- gadgets in attempts to thwart crime. We need to utilize this," he said.

 

It was the same reasoning Moses Mutalaga, chairperson Uganda Private Security Industry Association, shared.

 

He said the partnerships would improve them as they would be learning from the "best."

 

"You want to be the best, learn from the best. And Germans are.

 

"Uganda is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. But we can't take that for entitlement and have to continuously strive to improve our security awareness," he said.