MPs reject police's Shs 26bn supplementary budget to maintain CCTV cameras

Parliament's defence and internal affairs committee has rejected a Shs 26 billion supplementary budget request by the police to fund the maintenance of CCTV cameras in the country. 

Lawmakers have cited concerns over the quality and non-functionality of some of the security cameras, calling for a comprehensive review of the entire CCTV project. 

During a meeting with different security agencies led by the minister of State for Internal Affairs Gen David Muhoozi on Tuesday, the committee chaired by Rosemary Nyakikongoro challenged the police, stating that the security camera project has largely not met the expectations of Ugandans.   

Nyakikongoro observed that the police needs to be more effective in producing video footage to show criminals after its own officer was recently killed by assailants near a security camera. Jonathan Odur, the Erute South MP, supported Nyakikongoro’s observation, describing some of the security cameras as “dummies” which cannot record any footage.  

Bashir Lubega, the Mubende Municipality legislator, proposed the need to comprehensively review the entire CCTV project before the government can disburse more money for the same.  

Yusuf Sewanyana, the acting police director of ICT, explained that the quality of the footage and longevity of the installed cameras are usually affected by the weather, thus requiring periodic maintenance. 

Currently, the police are soliciting Shs 187 billion to implement phase III of the CCTV project that will fill existing gaps within the Kampala metropolitan area and other areas across the country. In FY 2023/2024, the police have been allocated Shs 830.6 billion against a revised budget of Shs 975.4 billion in the current FY 2022/2023.