Latest news with #Muhoozi
Zawya
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Renewal of National Identification Cards (IDs) to Start Soon - Gen. David Muhoozi
The mass renewal of national identification cards is expected to start in May 2025, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi has revealed. Gen. Muhoozi said this as he responded to the report of the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on the ministerial policy statement and budget estimates for 2025/2026 financial year. The report was presented by Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye on Wednesday, 09 April 2025. 'The plan is to pilot on government employees starting with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA),' said Muhoozi. He said that the equipment and software have all been tested and are ready for use adding that he will provide a comprehensive report on the renewal and registration for national IDs. The minister's update followed concerns by Hon. Milton Muwuma, (NRM, Kigulu County South) who called for renewal of the IDs as the country prepares for general elections in 2026. 'We will be going for nominations soon but some of us have expired IDs and this alone can disqualify someone,' Muwuma said. Hon. Isaias Ssasaga (FDC, Budadiri County East) inquired about the fate of primary and secondary school learners who were registered for IDs and are due for issuance but have not yet received them. 'Are the children going to be part of the new registration process or will they be issued old IDs,' he asked. Muhoozi said that such learners will have the option of either choosing to be issued old IDs or the new ones which have enhanced features. According to the committee's report, government requires Shs145 billion to procure blank IDs to enroll over six million Ugandans and renew over five million national IDs but only Shs24.5 billion has been allocated in the next financial year. 'The committee recommends a provision of Shs120.7 billion in the 2025/2026 budget to enable NIRA complete the enrollment exercise before the 2026 general elections,' Kajwengye said. The committee also recommended that Shs587 billion be provided for the nationwide rollout of the sub county policing model. The Uganda Police Force tested the model in Greater Masaka in the 2023/24 financial year. Over Shs5 billion has been allocated for constructing 30 model police stations and completing 11 in the Greater Masaka area, procurement of 333 motorcycles and communication equipment. The committee report however, noted that there is a funding gap of Shs587 billion. Luwero District Woman Member of Parliament , Hon. Brenda Nabukenya welcomed the proposal to roll out the sub county policing model and called for its prioritisation. 'I want to support the area where they are going to procure two motorcycles for each sub county police station. Fuel for the motorcycles should also be prioritized. Usually, we limit them because we do not provide money for fuel,' she said. Hon. Emely Kugonza (NRM, Buyanja East County) said that whereas the sub county policing model is innovative, it is not well planned noting that there are no police posts and accommodation for officers. 'I am appealing to government to do thorough planning; we need the police officers spread across but they need to be catered for otherwise, they will turn into a menance,' Kugonza said. The legislators also called for provision of sufficient transport means to the existing police stations saying that the work of the officers is hindered by lack of transport. Hon. Frank Kabuye (NUP, Kassanda County South) highlighted the plight of the officers citing that Kassanda has only one vehicle for emergency responses. 'It is high time we prioritise giving means of transport but also ensure that there are funds for maintenance of the vehicles and motorcycles,' he said. Minister Muhoozi said that government plans to introduce electric motorcycles to address the challenge of inadequate fuel. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Zawya
Uganda: Police to roll out phase III of national CCTV system
The implementation of phase III of the national CCTV project by the Uganda Police Force (UPF) will require an additional US$62 million. This revelation was made by the Undersecretary of the Police Aggrey Wunyi while appearing before the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Tuesday, 11 March 2025. Wunyi said that the project is still at the design and budget solicitation stage. AUDIO Wunyi The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. David Muhoozi led members of the force to the meeting of the committee. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba accompanied the minister. The minister added that the already implemented phase I and II of the national CCTV system is performing at an average ranging from 85 per cent to 95 per cent with some districts achieving 100 per cent performance. Muhoozi added that the system has so far covered all the 19 Kampala Metropolitan policing divisions and all municipalities including Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kisoro, Arua, Gulu, Iganga and Jinja. The other municipalities covered include Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Kasese, Fort Portal, Mubende, Mityana, Hoima, Masindi, Kitgum, Lira, Soroti, Moroto, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Tororo and Kamuli. 'Since implementation of the system in 2018, 42,417 operational and intelligence led incidents have been managed and 6,688 cases have undergone thorough investigation using the footage captured,' said Muhoozi. He said phase III of the project seeks to close the gaps identified in the initial phases through increasing camera density to reduce blind spots, introduce body-worn cameras for police officers and enhance the capacity of the data centre to support growing storage and processing needs. 'The system has to keep running because UPF recruited qualified IT personnel and engineers to do maintenance of the system. Only continuous training on new upgrades of the system is required,' Muhoozi added. AUDIO Kajwengye Legislators however, queried the effectiveness of the CCTV cameras. Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye asked about the ability of the cameras to operate efficiently during power outages affecting different parts of the country. 'We have had incidences where the main grid goes off. Does that affect your cameras or do the cameras have capacity to keep running despite such challenges? Is this also the case throughout the country?' Kajwengye asked. Hon. Peter Okeyoh (NRM, Bukooli Island County) tasked the UPF leadership to provide the measures being taken to vandalism of CCTV systems in the field, including during construction works like road maintenance. Kagoma North County MP, Hon. Kintu Brandon asked about the feasibility of the national CCTV system in incorporating footage captured private CCTV cameras. 'We have cameras installed in private places like supermarkets, bars, hotels or homes. How do you link them to your main CCTV centre in cases of crimes where you need to check their footage?' Kintu asked. Muhoozi clarified that the national system is not connected to the private CCTV cameras. 'We only use volunteer information from those with personal cameras. We also do not have a legal regime that governs private cameras and how they can offer input in the national grid of cameras, because there are privacy issues involved,' Muhoozi said. AUDIO Muhoozi To tackle vandalism, Muhoozi noted that CCTV cameras are mounted on poles covered with spikes to deter persons from climbing to destroy the camera systems. The UPF Director for ICT, Felix Baryamwisaki said the CCTV system has robust provisions to manage the inconsistencies of power supply. 'The camera sites have power backup of up to eight hours. If the main grid goes off beyond that, we get affected but the main monitoring centres remain operational because they have longer backup hours,' said Baryamwisaki. He added that power access in cities has greatly improved with power outages of not more than four hours adding that there are plans to install solar systems at CCTV sites in areas with long power outages. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Uganda: Government withdraws Forensic Evidence Bill
The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, has withdrawn the Forensic Evidence Bill, 2024, which sought to regulate and streamline forensic science services in crime investigation and prosecution. The Bill was first introduced to Parliament on 26 November 2024. Justifying the motion to withdraw the proposed law during the parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, Muhoozi said that discussions with the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs that was considering the Bill revealed that significant changes were needed, which would alter its intent. 'We found that there are things that need to be aligned within the Bill itself but also which if done, will substantially change it. The only recourse was that it be withdrawn and then brought back for reconsideration,' Muhoozi said. The proposed legislation sought to modernise forensic science services and regulate forensic practices. A key provision was the establishment of a National DNA Database, described as 'an electronic depository for human DNA profiles containing forensic DNA analysis results,' to be managed by the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory. The Bill addressed DNA profiling services, collection of bodily samples, laboratory analytical reports, access to DNA profiles, retention and disposal of forensic DNA profiles, and non-disclosure of information. It proposed removing profiles of suspects within three years if no charges were brought or if they were acquitted. Volunteer DNA profiles would only be retained with explicit donor consent. Additionally, it proposed designating the Government Analytical Laboratory as the regulatory body for forensic services and establishing regional laboratories to decentralise services and improve access nationwide. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
