KAMPALA, Uganda — Police authorities have initiated investigations into alleged acts of vandalism targeting the national CCTV camera network, purportedly carried out by political candidates in anticipation of the 2026 general elections.
A general inquiry file (GEF 052/2025) has been opened with the objective of identifying politicians whose campaign posters are believed to have disrupted the fiber optic cables supporting police CCTV surveillance in various parts of the Kampala Metropolitan area.
Preliminary findings indicate that numerous CCTV connections in Kawempe, Nansana, Kakiri, and other areas within Wakiso district have been rendered non-functional as a direct consequence of large posters being affixed onto the fiber-optic cables.
“We suspect that these politicians unknowingly erected their posters on these fibre cables, which have disconnected police CCTV cameras in various areas. We are now searching for these politicians to warn them,” a senior officer within the ICT directorate stated.
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As political campaigns begin to intensify ahead of the 2026 elections, posters of varying sizes have been mounted on electric poles, transformers, perimeter walls, and even public buildings. Some of these placements have inadvertently interfered with vital infrastructure.
“This damage and disconnections resulted from campaign posters in Kazo-Angola Zone, which were erected where the fibre cable passes. The scene was documented, and the posters were recovered and exhibited. No arrests made,” reads the report from Kampala North ICT officers.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango indicated that he had not yet received a full briefing on the matter. However, he urged all political actors to exercise extreme caution and to consult local authorities before erecting any campaign posters.
