VIDEO: Police want private CCTV cameras connected to national camera network in crime fight

Police has announced a compulsory connection of private CCTV cameras to the central system of the Uganda police as it intensifies efforts to curb crime.

Building owners with CCTV cameras will be required to provide a 24 hour CCTV footage to police.

This follows a private owned CCTV camera that filmed unknown assailants killing a boda boda rider and making away with his motorcycle.

Boda boda riders are however dissatisfied with police’s efforts to fight boda related murders. 

https://nilepost.co.ug/2018/11/02/police-to-integrate-private-cctv-cameras-into-national-grid/

As city murders take a toll on the population, seemingly overwhelmed police is now panicking with solutions. From deploying the military and LDUs in Kampala and the surrounding areas that has failed to curtail murders, police is now moving to compel building owners with private CCTV cameras to have them connected to central control system of the Uganda police. 

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said, “All the building owners that have CCTV cameras including shopping malls, will be vital is supplying us with video footage of what happens in their area but we will have to first connect the cameras to the police camera system”

Fresh on the mind of every one is the gruesome murder of a boda boda cyclist by unknown assailants in Kakeeka village, Mengo in Rubaga division on Friday night. The assailants later made away with the motorcycle. With a CCTV camera project yet to be effective, police hopes to increase camera coverage and presence using privately owned cameras. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0LQ0TyKS-o&feature=youtu.be

So far, a total of 2,546 CCTV cameras have been installed in Kampala Metropolitan area, out of the planned 3,233 cameras, representing 78% progress. Out of these installed cameras, only, 1,565 cameras are active explaining why some murders like the one in Nansana that happened under a police CCTV cameras could not be solved using the same camera. 

To some boda boda riders we spoke to, police is to blame for the rampant murders in the city, since little has been done to increase police presence and patrols in dark spots, while the suspected criminals are released by police without any charge. Some believe that the military should take over investigating murders in the city.