Digital Number Plate Rollout Hits Snag: Security Minister and KACITA at Odds
By The Public Lens
The rollout of digital number plates in Uganda has hit a roadblock, with Security Minister Rtd Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi blaming Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) for the delay.
While addressing the media, on July 4, 2024, at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala Muhwezi explained that logistical challenges and the Russia-Ukraine war had affected the project’s timeline.
The minister noted that the roll-out of the project was supposed to be March 1, 2023, but it was postponed to July 1, 2023, due to logistical challenges and other unforeseen hindrances.
“Towards the roll-out date of the project on July, 1, 2023, the business community led by KACITA petitioned Parliament to halt the exercise citing lack of enough public sensitization and readiness of the public,” Muhwezi said.
The Minister further explained how a Russian firm Joint Stock Company “Global Security”, the contracted service provider to deliver the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) was affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Given the above, and coupled with logistical issues on the side of the service provider partly caused by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, an extension was made to 1st November 2023, starting with the fitment of new registration plates to Government Vehicles,” Muhwezi added.
KACITA chairperson Musoke Thaddeus Nagenda suggested a phased implementation, starting with government vehicles and motorcycles, and recommended reducing the cost of number plates.
Musoke suggested that the cost of the number plates should not be more than shs200,000 for a new one on motor vehicles and shs130,000/- for motorcycles and the replacement fee maintained at 50,000/- for all categories.
The Minister’s response highlights the ongoing debate between the government and KACITA over the project’s implementation.
As of June 26, 2024, only 1,091 government vehicles had been fitted with the new registration plates, falling short of the expected numbers.
The project’s future remains uncertain, with logistical challenges and disagreements ongoing.
