The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is set to introduce body cameras as a tool to help hold law enforcement officers accountable and be more transparent.
For years, the KCCA enforcement officers have been accused of making brutal arrests and extorting money from hawkers in exchange for their confiscated merchandise.
While meeting with the enforcement officers on Wednesday, Dorothy Kisaka, the KCCA Executive Director, said the body camera initiative will help rebuild trust with the communities and reduce citizen complaints.
Also, she said that the cameras will enable enforcement officers to record footage when they have interactions, such as arrests, with members of the public.
“The equipment will also enable the KCCA legal department to collect evidence during investigations or better defend their actions during a particular encounter,” she said.
The ED explained that a surveillance system will be put in place whereby even when an officer removes or switches off the camera, their location will still be known.
“In the past few days, there have been increased reports of public disquiet, especially downtown. There are many reports of indiscipline, theft, and assaults on people that are coming in.
“There are some bad apples among you who are spoiling the job. We cannot allow indiscipline, assault, battering, and theft to go on as we watch. This must stop,” Kisaka said.
Currently, the officers are undergoing training on the usage of body camera technology, which is part of the grand strategy of actualizing the Smart City strategy.
KCCA has a total of 128 enforcement officers who are legally entrusted with maintaining trade order in the city.