Police spy cameras go upcountry
Jul 15, 2008
THE Government plans to install spy cameras, in place in Kampala and Entebbe since last year, across the country.
By Steven Candia
THE Government plans to install spy cameras, in place in Kampala and Entebbe since last year, across the country.
Speaking at the handover of the sh1.8b CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) project yesterday, internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the plans to roll out the spy camera technology were aimed at bolstering national security.
“There are plans to expand this project to other parts of the country. People who intend to commit crimes in Uganda should stand warned, you will not escape,†Rugunda said at the colourful ceremony attended by state defence minister Ruth Nankabirwa and ICT minister Ham Mulira.
To drive his point home, Rugunda cited the ease in which the perpetrators of the 2005 London underground bombings were fished out.
“If you escape the physical eye of the Inspector General of Police, you will definitely not escape the eyes of the CCTV cameras,†he warned.
The spy cameras, installed ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November 2007, have led to a reduction in crime and helped in traffic management, the Police said.
In the recent past, a number of arrests have been made thanks to the video footage, noted Francis Rwego, the deputy Inspector General of Police. The Police also recorded pictures of all the people who took part in recent illegal demonstrations in the city.
“We monitor the city and make situational reports. When there is an incident in a particular place we communicate to our field officers and direct them to respond to it,†explained Yusuf Sewanyana, the IT expert of the Police, while taking journalists through a guided tour.
Police chief Maj. Gen Kale Kayihura said schools could adopt the technology in light of the disturbing wave of school fires sweeping the country.
“This technology is becoming more affordable and within the means of schools. They could employ this technology to check schools fires,†he said, adding that six spy cameras nowadays cost about sh2m.
At the function, Elijah Zizinga of Sekanyolya Systems, the firm that handled the project, handed Kayihura a piece of technology that would enable him observe what is going on in the control room from his mobile phone.
Mulira lauded the use of spy camera technology as a move towards tapping the full benefits and potential of ICT in delivering a safe environment.
“We are now beginning to see the innovative and creative use of ICT to move the country forward. ICT is efficient, transparent and cost-effective in delivery of services,†the minister noted.
THE Government plans to install spy cameras, in place in Kampala and Entebbe since last year, across the country.
Speaking at the handover of the sh1.8b CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) project yesterday, internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the plans to roll out the spy camera technology were aimed at bolstering national security.
“There are plans to expand this project to other parts of the country. People who intend to commit crimes in Uganda should stand warned, you will not escape,†Rugunda said at the colourful ceremony attended by state defence minister Ruth Nankabirwa and ICT minister Ham Mulira.
To drive his point home, Rugunda cited the ease in which the perpetrators of the 2005 London underground bombings were fished out.
“If you escape the physical eye of the Inspector General of Police, you will definitely not escape the eyes of the CCTV cameras,†he warned.
The spy cameras, installed ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November 2007, have led to a reduction in crime and helped in traffic management, the Police said.
In the recent past, a number of arrests have been made thanks to the video footage, noted Francis Rwego, the deputy Inspector General of Police. The Police also recorded pictures of all the people who took part in recent illegal demonstrations in the city.
“We monitor the city and make situational reports. When there is an incident in a particular place we communicate to our field officers and direct them to respond to it,†explained Yusuf Sewanyana, the IT expert of the Police, while taking journalists through a guided tour.
Police chief Maj. Gen Kale Kayihura said schools could adopt the technology in light of the disturbing wave of school fires sweeping the country.
“This technology is becoming more affordable and within the means of schools. They could employ this technology to check schools fires,†he said, adding that six spy cameras nowadays cost about sh2m.
At the function, Elijah Zizinga of Sekanyolya Systems, the firm that handled the project, handed Kayihura a piece of technology that would enable him observe what is going on in the control room from his mobile phone.
Mulira lauded the use of spy camera technology as a move towards tapping the full benefits and potential of ICT in delivering a safe environment.
“We are now beginning to see the innovative and creative use of ICT to move the country forward. ICT is efficient, transparent and cost-effective in delivery of services,†the minister noted.