Uganda Police Force says they are yet to recover CCTV camera footage that captured the fatal accident along the Nakawa – Naguru road on the 24th, February, 2020 where a one Ritah Nabukenya was killed.
Fred Enanga the police spokesperson, says that the cameras around the whole section were not working due to disruptions in the fibre optic underground cables, following construction works along the Ntinda – Nakawa-Naguru stretch.
“Other failures are usually due to constant power outages in certain policing divisions, as well as the erection of banners/billboards within the corridors of CCTV camera view which grossly impacts on our investigations. You are all aware the demand for new services, like the proliferation of internet by telecoms, utility companies like UMEME, National Water and Sewage Corporation, and other users like; KCCA, Uganda National Roads Authority, Local Government activities and Landlords, regularly conduct construction works” Enanga said.
Enanga added that the IGP has tasked the Directorate of ICT to regularly check CCTV system and ensure every single camera deployed is working. And if not, should be fixed immediately.
He notes that the police is working closely with city planners responsible for city works, to adopt new technologies for construction that minimize the disruption of typical underground utility construction. New technologies make projects easier and prevent the need to endlessly repeat work for upgrades.
“The CCTV Network in KMP is therefore, not only an important tool in solving crimes but also plays a big role in preventing them. The system has been fully operational for the last 6 months. It has been efficient and we have been using it to pacify the notorious high crime areas. Where we have registered a significant reductions in cases of pickpocketing, shop lifting, theft from motor vehicles etc” he added.
According to the police mouthpiece, cameras are a smart technology which alerts operators to pre-determined people, registration numbers or incidents; they monitor public areas to detect incidents and to coordinate police responses, facilitate automated images searches, records events for use as evidence and to inform investigations, directed surveillance of suspected offenders and deteriorate of criminal activities. It has therefore, enhanced situational awareness in the city, for early detection of potential threats, as well as collect data for post-incident investigation and analysis.
“We therefore want to get the message out to the public, that where there are no fiber optic disruptions, the CCTV cameras are working at full capacity and are streaming clear images to the monitoring and National Command Centre. We would like to add that the traffic investigations unit has taken over investigations into the fatal accident of Ritah Nabukenya, while the shooting incident at Nansana is being investigated by the Regional CID officers at KMP North. Both cases are progressing well” Enanga said.