Police use newly installed CCTV cameras to arrest thieves in Kampala

Using footage from the newly installed CCTV cameras, Police in Kampala have arrested two people suspected of stealing a phone in the city centre.

A 34 second recording from one of the Pan Tilt Zoom(PTZ) cameras that rotates and views 360 degrees showed an unknown youth snatching a phone from one of the passengers in a taxi near Shoprite.

The video went viral on social media early this week.

However, the Nile Post has learnt that police used footage from the CCTV camera to help trace and arrest 17 year old Essau Nduhukire.

“It is upon that video that we were able to race and arrest him and divulged details about his colleagues,” Kampala Metropolitan Area police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire said.

I was sitting on the fence regarding the effectiveness of these CCTVs in curbing crime. I am now a total convert. The resolution is on point. I hope they are or will be linked to the National ID for facial recognition.@PoliceUg @FrankTumwebazek and @KagutaMuseveni kudos. pic.twitter.com/7Pq9UyBvda

— Muhereza Kyamutetera (@StKyamutetera) December 31, 2018

The police mouthpiece said the police also arrested one Musa Byamukama who bought the phone that Nduhukire had stolen.

In the video that made rounds early this week, the then unknown thief was captured walking towards one of the back windows of a taxi that was stuck in jam along Ben Kiwanuka street  and snatched a phone before taking off in thin air.

The development underscores the use of the newly installed CCTV cameras that many members of the public doubted.

Speaking about the video, one member of the public said he was now content with what the cameras can do in terms of security.

“I was sitting on the fence regarding the effectiveness of these CCTVs in curbing crime. I am now a total convert. The resolution is on point. I hope they are or will be linked to the National ID for facial recognition,”Muhereza Kyamutetera posted on his twitter.

Speaking during the New Year address early this week, President Museven insisted that the CCTV cameras will greatly help to fight criminality around the country.

“We have been working systematically to resolve the issue of the artificial eyes in the cities, towns and highways and of improved forensic systems. This new year will see us close those gaps forever,”Museveni said.

Police recently announced that a total of 5,552 CCTV cameras are set to be installed in various places around the country with the Kampala Metropolitan districts of Wakiso, Kampala and Mukono taking a lion’s share with 3233 cameras on 1248 sites.

The newly installed CCTV cameras are of two types including the fixed and Pan Tilt Zoom(PTZ) cameras that rotates and views 360 degrees.

The camera also have a feature of automatic number plate recognition for reading number plates including those for motorcycles.

The CCTV cameras also have a facial recognition feature, night vision, Global Positioning System (GPS) and automatic cleaning system.

According to Commissioner of Police, Felix Baryamwisaki, the acting police director in charge of ICT a total of over 400 cameras were by Christmas installed as part of the first phase of the Smart City Project.

The project started with Nateete, Rubaga, Lugala, Kabowa, Kawaala, Lungujja and Kasubi areas of the Old Kampala and Katwe Police divisions whereas Nateete police station currently acts at the temporary  national command centre for the CCTV cameras.