Uganda’s Parliamentary Committee on Defence & Internal Affairs, chaired by Hon. Wilson Kajwengye (Nyabushozi County) has summoned top Uganda Police Force officials to answer tough questions about the malfunctional CCTV surveillance system meant to improve national security.
Appearing before the committee in a heated session at Parliament’s South Committee Room, State Minister for Internal Affairs Hon. David Muhoozi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abass Byakagaba and his deputy found themselves in the hot seat as legislators demanded accountability for the multi-billion-shilling project that has yet to deliver significant crime fighting results.
When the Ugandan government rolled out its national CCTV surveillance program, it promised a revolution in crime detection and prevention.
The public was assured that these cameras would deter criminals, track offenders and provide indisputable evidence in court.
However, MPs were not convinced. Many pointed out that major crimes including high profile assassinations, armed robberies and kidnappings remain unsolved despite police boasting about having “eyes everywhere.”
Several legislators questioned why critical CCTV footage often seems to conveniently disappear or become inaccessible whenever key investigations require it.
“If the CCTV system is truly working, why do we still have rampant murders, thefts and abductions with no culprits brought to justice?” one MP fired at the security officials. “Why do Ugandans still hear the excuse that ‘the cameras were off’ or ‘the footage was lost’ when they demand answers?”
Under mounting pressure, IGP Byakagaba admitted to several challenges crippling the efficiency of the system and they include frequent power outages affecting cameras in some areas, gaps in CCTV coverage, especially in high-crime zones, limited trained personnel to operate and monitor the system effectively.
Despite these failures, Hon. Muhoozi defended the project insisting that CCTV had been instrumental in solving some cases.
He claimed that footage had helped identify criminals, track stolen vehicles and bring offenders to justice, though he acknowledged the need for system improvements.
The debate surrounding CCTV effectiveness is not just about crime, it’s about trust in law enforcement, accountability, and whether public funds are being misused.
MPs are now pushing for an independent forensic audit of the entire CCTV program to determine whether taxpayers’ money is being wasted on a flawed system.
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence is expected to release a report on its findings, which could influence future funding and policy decisions regarding Uganda’s security infrastructure.
