By: Nasser Kasozi
The Uganda police Force has refuted media claims that it is on Hon. Kyagulanyi alia Bobi Wine and other key opposition politicians using sophisticated technology.
Fred Enanga police spokesperson said the claims that government is using Chinese technology firm to spy and monitor the opposition politicians is wrong and misleading.
Mr. Enanga was responding to media reports by the US based News Company The Wall Street Journal that Ugandan authorities used Chinese technology to spy on Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and other opposition politicians in the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the police force says that although it has a contract with Huawei to install CCTV cameras countrywide as a measure to strengthen law and order, the gadgets and technology at their disposal are not for spying purposes as alleged.
The police force also noted that the article by WSJ which was later carried by a local newspaper is being used to sabotage and smear the UPF, and give a particular member of opposition political mileage.
In the statement, the police force further challenge the WSJ and a local newspaper to release information that the infrastructure installed has been secretly use to extract personal information from private cell phones as alleged.
“We continue to take our policing responsibilities very seriously and utilize a range of operational, investigative and intelligence tools in our everyday activities, but not for spying purposes as alleged” the statement reads in part.
Mr. Fred Enanga further stated that this publication of allegations about Uganda is total sabotage and a trade war and propaganda against Huawei and its clients.
According to the report, the equipment can covertly be deployed in buildings, vehicles, computers, mobile phones, cameras and any other equipment deemed worthy for information extraction or surveillance.
The report further says the operation has already gathered a lot of information revealing secret plans of Hon. Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, and the main Ugandan opposition party, the FDC.
It says the aim of the operation is to manage and control the media houses and opposition politicians which may involve blackmailing them.
However government claims these reports by the western media are baseless and misleading as western media is trying to bring Uganda into business wars it has with the Asian tigers in this case Chinese company.
