M.S Joint Global System, a Russian security company has been contracted by the government of Uganda to install tracking devices in all public and private vehicles and motorcycles in the country.
According to the agreement signed by Permanent Secretaries for Ministry of Works and Ministry for Presidency on Friday, this will reduce the increased criminality in the country which targets high profile individual while travelling on roads.
The deal will also see tracking devices installed in water vessels on all the country’s water bodies
The Permanent Secretaries for the Ministry of Works and Ministry for Presidency signed the agreement on behalf of the Ugandan government whereas the Security Minister.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the office of the president in Kampala, the Security Minister, Gen Jim Muhwezi who also witnessed the signing, he said that it will help in dealing with the security problem for the country.
“It will provide government with a digital system that will monitor our vehicles in the country. It will enable us use artificial intelligence to back up other measures in place to be able to provide the country with security,”Muhwezi said.
Allaying fears of invasion of privacy, the Security Minister said the system will only be used for security purposes and nothing else.
“I would like to assure everybody that the system will not interest itself in private matters of all motor vehicle users. The purpose is only security. With this system, once there is a security situation, we will be able to tell which vehicle was in that place. If there is no security problem, no one will be interested. There should be no worry of intrusion in privacy of motor vehicle users until there is a situation,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Presidency, Yunus Kakande said the deal will run for 10 years.
President Museveni first hinted at the program of installing digital monitors to all vehicles and motorcycles following the gruesome murder of Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga.
Last month, the president directed the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen David Muhoozi to oversee the project.
He noted that a portion of the budget has been set aside to fund this cause.
“Every vehicle and motorcycle must have a centralized digital monitor. If you try to remove it, we shall go for you. It will show us where you are at any one time. As soon as there is a crime, we go. I don’t want any wasting time in investigations,” Museveni said