🚦 Inside the Digital Plate Debacle: President Museveni Uncovers the Hidden Hands
🚦 Uganda’s Digital Number Plate Saga: Museveni Exposes the Shadowy Exploiters
Published by ENS | July 2025
In a candid revelation that has sent ripples through Uganda’s transport sector, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has publicly unveiled a troubling scheme that has undermined the government’s flagship move toward digitalizing vehicle registration and traffic management.
The centerpiece of this controversy? The newly introduced digital number plates and the accompanying automated traffic fines system — innovations meant to usher Uganda into a new era of road safety and efficiency.
However, instead of easing congestion and crime, the initiative has spiraled into a quagmire of inflated fines and public distrust.
Speaking directly to the nation, Museveni described the crisis as the handiwork of “criminal gangs” who hijacked the project to serve their own interests, rather than the public good.
“This was never meant to be a system to squeeze money from citizens. Some individuals working behind the scenes turned it into a money-making machine,” the President said.
The recent flood of penalties, some reaching as high as UGX 600,000, have shocked many motorists, with fines sent via automated messages and a strict 72-hour window to pay before escalating sanctions.
The original contract for the system was awarded to Joint Stock Company Global Security Ltd, a Russian firm, under the government’s Integrated Transport Management System (ITMS) initiative.
Yet, according to Museveni, local criminal syndicates manipulated the rollout, exploiting loopholes and pushing aggressive enforcement tactics that were never authorized.
🚗 Vision vs. Reality
The ITMS was designed to introduce transparency, security, and efficiency to Uganda’s road networks through digital plates embedded with tracking technology, surveillance cameras, and a central data hub.
The goal? To reduce vehicle-related crime, streamline traffic management, and protect citizens.
Instead, the public has been caught in a confusing web of unexpected penalties, eroding trust in a system meant to protect them.
Museveni emphasized that the original purpose was not to monetize compliance, but to strengthen national security and accountability on the roads.
“The fines issued were not my directive. They were added without proper approval or consultation,” he clarified.
🧩 What Lies Ahead
In response to mounting public pressure, the government has paused the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) enforcement while investigations are launched.
A thorough audit of the project’s implementation and management is underway to identify the actors responsible for the misuse.
For Ugandans, this episode underscores the challenges of balancing technological progress with governance — and the dangers when innovation is hijacked by corrupt interests.
At ENS, we remain committed to delivering incisive coverage on Uganda’s evolving digital landscape — bringing you clarity, depth, and boldness on stories that shape the future.
Stay tuned as we continue to track the unfolding saga of Uganda’s digital transport transformation.
