Uganda Police Set to Launch Phase III of National CCTV System with Additional $62 Million Funding

IGP, Abbas Byakagaba

The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has announced plans to roll out Phase III of its national CCTV surveillance system, which will require an additional US$62 million for implementation. This announcement was made by the UPF Undersecretary, Aggrey Wunyi, during a meeting with the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on March 11, 2025.

Wunyi stated that the project is still in the design and budget solicitation phase, with efforts focused on securing the necessary funds. The meeting was attended by State Minister for Internal Affairs Hon. David Muhoozi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba, and other senior police officers.

Phase I and II of the national CCTV system, which have already been implemented, are currently functioning at an average performance rate of 85-95%, with some districts achieving 100% efficiency. The system has covered 19 policing divisions within the Kampala Metropolitan area and various municipalities, including Masaka, Mbarara, Arua, Gulu, and Jinja, among others.

Since its launch in 2018, the system has managed over 42,000 operational and intelligence-led incidents, with 6,688 cases being thoroughly investigated using footage captured by the cameras.

Phase III aims to address gaps identified in the initial phases by increasing camera density to eliminate blind spots, introducing body-worn cameras for police officers, and enhancing the capacity of the data center to accommodate growing storage and processing demands.

“The system has to keep running because UPF recruited qualified IT personnel and engineers for maintenance. Continuous training on system upgrades is also essential,” said Minister Muhoozi.

However, committee members raised concerns about the system’s effectiveness, particularly during power outages. Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, Committee Chairperson, asked about the cameras’ ability to function during grid power failures. In response, Felix Baryamwisaki, Director of ICT for UPF, assured the committee that camera sites are equipped with power backups of up to eight hours, ensuring that monitoring centers remain operational even during extended outages. Plans are also in place to install solar systems at CCTV sites in areas with frequent power interruptions.

MPs also inquired about the risks of vandalism and the integration of private CCTV cameras into the national system. Minister Muhoozi clarified that private CCTV footage is not directly linked to the national grid due to privacy concerns and the lack of a legal framework to govern such integration. To prevent vandalism, the cameras are mounted on poles with spikes to deter tampering.

The national CCTV project, once fully implemented, is expected to significantly enhance Uganda's security infrastructure, with Phase III designed to address challenges in camera coverage, power reliability, and system maintenance.