Uganda Rolls Out New Plates: 1,091 Vehicles Fitted Out of 2.1 Million Fleet

On July 4, 2024, the Ministers of Security and Works and Transport provided an update on the implementation of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) project, revealing that 1,091 vehicles from various ministries had been fitted with new registration plates. Despite falling short of the required numbers due to persistent logistical challenges, efforts are underway to resolve these issues.

Over the years, according to the ministerial statement, motor vehicle ownership in Uganda has risen to about 2,145,988 vehicles as of July 3, 2024. “This growth has brought about challenges such as crime involving motor vehicles, road traffic accidents, multiple number plates, and forgeries,” the ministers said. Tracking criminals and bringing traffic offenders to justice has been hampered by insufficient evidence regarding motor vehicles used in crimes. Additionally, the management and administration of motor vehicles have faced issues such as a lack of a credible and reliable database, poor quality control measures, lack of technical staff, distorted reporting structures, low revenue collection, and discrepancies in registration books.

Despite various interventions, these problems persist. While some challenges have been mitigated with system improvements, many are expected to be addressed through the ITMS, a project implemented by the Government of Uganda in partnership with the Joint Stock Company “Global Security”.

Objectives of the ITMS

The ITMS aims to enable quick and timely responses by security agencies to crimes involving motor vehicles, improve traffic management, and enhance revenue collection through the issuance of traffic tickets to offenders. The project includes several components, such as issuing digital registration plates, which feature two aluminum registration plates for the front and back, a tracker, a SIM chip, two Bluetooth beacons for both front and back, and snap locks for both front and back.

These components allow for real-time tracking of all vehicles on the ITMS platform at the Police Command Centers in Naguru and Nateete, enabling the government to trace and resolve vehicle-related crimes and traffic offenses as needed.

Challenges and Implementation Delays

The agreement between the Government and Joint Stock Global Security Company to deliver the ITMS project was signed two years and ten months ago. Initially scheduled to roll out on March 1, 2024, the project was postponed to July 1, 2023, due to logistical challenges.

As the roll-out date approached, the business community, led by KACITA, petitioned Parliament to halt the exercise, citing insufficient public sensitization and readiness. They proposed starting with government vehicles. Consequently, the roll-out was extended to November 1, 2023, focusing on fitting new registration plates to government vehicles first.

Status of Registration Plate Fitment

As of June 26, 2024, 1,091 vehicles from various ministries had been fitted with new registration plates, falling short of the required numbers due to ongoing logistical challenges. Below is the status of the fitment:

Currently, there are 107,014 registration plates, 3,662 trackers, and 17,679 BLE beacons at the facility, with more components expected in the coming weeks. Plans for establishing a local production factory are underway, with the service provider setting up a facility in Kawempe for local production of registration plates. This facility includes four hot stamping machines and four embossment machines, with blank plates and hot stamping materials with security features to arrive soon.

The motor vehicle registration system on ITMS, including the booking, verification, and stock control systems, is substantially completed. Improvements on the ASYCUDA and E-Tax systems to facilitate pre-registration processes at the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam and in bonds are also nearly complete. Provisions for fee assessment for new registration plates by government entities are available, and construction of fitment centers at the Mutukula and Malaba border points is ongoing.

Future Roll-Out Plans

As the government and the service provider finalize preparations for a massive roll-out, the process will continue in phases:

• November 1, 2024: Start issuing registration plates to new motorcycles.
• January 6, 2025: Full roll-out for all categories of vehicles and motorcycles.

This phased approach aims to ensure a smooth transition and effective implementation of the ITMS, ultimately enhancing vehicle management, traffic control, and crime prevention in Uganda.