Makerere to install CCTV cameras at university

Strike. Some Makerere students carry their colleagues who fainted during the strike at the university on October 31. Police and Makerere University officials yesterday agreed to install CCTV cameras in crime-prone areas. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA

What you need to know:

Senior police officers led by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Martins Okoth Ochola visited Makerere to know the crime-prone areas where to install the cameras and deploy police officers

A meeting involving Uganda Police and Makerere University officials yesterday agreed to install CCTV cameras to cover the entire university as one of the mega plans to ensure security at the campus.
The meeting followed the students’ strike protesting 15 per cent tuition increment that lasted for about 10 days.
A source who did not want to be named, said senior police officers led by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola, wanted to know the crime-prone areas where to install the cameras and deploy police officers.

The source also said the meeting agreed to bring on board the private hostel managers outside the university where majority of Makerere University students reside because the strikes usually spread outside the university.

The issue of the university land which has been encroached on by some residents was also discussed, according to the sources.
“Students have been demonstrating and spoiling the university properties. So the cameras will help to identify the naughty students and all the planned demonstrations at the university in time,” the source said.

The source said the meeting was also attended by Director of Criminal Investigations (CID), Grace Akullo, Deputy IGP, Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi, Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commander Moses Kafeero and Assistant IGP Asan Kasingye, among others.
The university team included the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof Umar Kakumba, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof William Bazeyo, the University Secretary, Mr Yusuf Kiranda, among others.
Prof Kakumba confirmed the meeting, saying the security bosses visited the university to discuss the mega security plan for university properties, staff and students.
He said the university has a number of properties which need to be protected.

“The IGP with his team came to Makerere to familiarise themselves with the security of the university to be able to establish the mega security plan for now and the future. President Museveni directed for the withdrawal of military from the university and asked police to take over. It was one of the plans,” Prof Kakumba said.
“They came to survey where the major installations should be made and to see how they can secure the university properties and its population at large,” he added.

Police respond
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said he was aware of the meeting but did not know what transpired.
He, however, said he was reliably informed that Makerere University management appreciated the security agencies for restoring peace at the university during the period of unrest.