Hundreds and possibly thousands of people in Kampala have lost their smart phones, jewellery and other valuable properties to thieves who mostly snatch them along streets, from cars and other places.
But thieves are not the only security threat to pedestrians, motorists and other users of the Kampala city. Kampala’s archaic transport system, general lack of trade order, inadequate traffic control systems and the overcrowding of the city have conspired to bring mayhem in Uganda’s capital.
Fortunately the city’s administrators are thinking about it and have taken steps to reverse the trend.
According to Martin Ssekajja, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)’s Head of ICT, the city authority recently undertook a pilot study to find out how they transform the city into a smart and safe city. The team resolved to use deploy modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) as the most efficient and cost effective way to enhance security and safety in the city.
While KCCA is yet to hire a private company to partner with in realising this goal, it believes that ICT can replace human beings in restoring order among motorists, apprehend criminals like phone snatchers as well as improve public transport and payment systems.
“A smart city has many components such as e-learning, e-payment, and smart transport where people will have cards that can be used for buses and taxis,” Ssekajja said.
Ssekajja says that with the installation of monitoring cameras, they will be able to reduce crime.
“With such technology, we shall be able to crack down on crime in the city including people who trespass and walk on the city grass. Smart city is implemented in phases depending on available funds and need,” he said.
Huawei, which is one of the leading ICT providers in the world concur that KCCA could have come at a different answer.
While delivering a presentation about safe city at Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo, during the Africa Mayors Forum, Rose Moyo, Huawei’s Director of Enterprise solution East and Southern Africa said that applying technology helps to improve service delivery.
“With our 18 years of experience within Africa’s ICT industry, coupled with our extensive industry global network, Huawei is well positioned to share the best practices and latest ICT solutions.
Huawei has a presence in most of the 54 African countries where it works closely with telecom operators to modernize their respective networks and with governments to support ICT infrastructure deployment and digital transformation practice.
We know that our insight in Smart City and security in African cities shall give an end to end solution for crime in Africa,” added Stanley Chyn, the Managing Director of Huawei Uganda.
