According to Police, 32 sites in Mbale are going to have CCTV cameras and so far over 20 cameras have been installed in the areas of Nkoma, Namakwekwe, Bugema, Malukhu, around the town, Nilon, Mooni among other places.
The Installation of Closed-Circuit
Television (CCTV) Cameras that started in Mbale town has brought joy among the residents.
Installation
of the cameras by government and implemented by Safe City Solutions Company started on Wednesday.
Residents are happy about the development saying it will greatly improve
security in the area.
According to Police, 32 sites in Mbale are going to have CCTV
cameras. Already over 20 cameras have been installed in the areas of Nkoma,
Namakwekwe, Bugema, Malukhu, around the town, Nilon, Mooni, Nakaloke, Namatala, Nauyo among others. places.
Mutwalib Zandya, the Mbale Municipality Mayor said they have
identified crime prone areas where the CCTV cameras are being installed to
reduce on the crime rate in the urban centre.
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According to residents, these cameras
will help reduce crime rate in Mbale and improve on the security. Hakim
Khasakya who operates a welding shop at Nkoma stage said
the cameras will help reduce on the burglaries that have been taking
place in
the area. He is however worried that police may request for money to
retrieve the information in case the members of the public need it.
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Another resident Nasser Mudemi applauded government’s efforts to curb crime
in the country. But he asked the authorities to sensitize the locals on how
these cameras work.
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Yunusu Mbago, the Chairman of Nkoma boda boda stage
welcomed the development with pleasure saying it will help reduce on the
number of thugs who attempt to steal their motorcycles.
Lumasaba bite
//Cue in: Inalela nkola…
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Ali Dago, a lecturer at Islamic University in Uganda has
however downplayed the role of cameras in fighting crime saying they can only
aid in the fight against criminality. Dago said it takes the willingness of both security persons
and residents to work together to curb criminality in Mbale as cameras do not
guarantee total security.
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Like Dago, Geofrey Wambulu from Namakwekwe ward thinks the
cameras are a waste of tax payers money since even those arrested
through the aid of the cameras are not prosecuted.
//Cue in: "Esonga ya kamela...
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Musa Kassajja, a councilor in Industrial Division said the
cameras have come at a right time when Mbale is acquiring city status and these
are some of the necessities the city needs. He said that the people of Mbale are blessed getting
cameras even before becoming a city.
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Mbale
Resident District Commissioner Ogajjo Baraza says that the cameras will
eliminate thuggery and highway robberies but also help them in
tightening the security around Mbale.
Kirinya Ayubu is the URN Bureau Chief of Elgon/Bukedi Sub Regions . He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Islamic University in Uganda and a Diploma in Computer Science and Information Technology from the same University.
