By Spy Uganda
The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has called on Parliament to review the monopoly granted to the foreign company contracted to manufacture and install Uganda’s digital number plates, citing delays, high costs and disruptions affecting businesses and motorists.
Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure on Monday, September 28, 2026, UMA Board Chairperson Richard Mubiru said the digital number plate project was introduced to strengthen vehicle security and curb the use of forged registration plates, but questioned whether the intended benefits had been fully realised.
Uganda signed a 10-year agreement with Russia-based Joint Stock Company Global Security in 2021 to implement the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), which includes the supply and installation of digital number plates.
The system was designed to improve vehicle identification and tracking, enhance traffic management and strengthen revenue collection.
However, Mubiru told the committee, chaired by Mwine Mpaka, that the arrangement had effectively displaced local companies that previously manufactured number plates, while motorists and businesses continued to face difficulties accessing the new plates.
Stakeholders appearing before the committee raised concerns about prolonged delays in the issuance and installation of digital number plates, with some motorists reporting that they had waited for several months.
Boda boda rider Hassan Ssentongo told MPs that he paid for a digital number plate in July 2025 but had not received it by the time he appeared before the committee. He further claimed that he had been asked to make an additional payment.
National Boda Boda Union Chairperson Frank Mawejje also questioned the cost and effectiveness of the digital number plate system, particularly for motorcycle owners.
Mawejje said boda boda riders were being charged more than Shs700,000 for digital number plates, compared with the previous cost of about Shs125,000.
He argued that motorcycle owners should not be subjected to charges similar to those imposed on motor vehicle owners, given the differences in the value and use of the two categories of vehicles.
Mawejje also questioned whether the digital number plate system had significantly contributed to the recovery of stolen motorcycles.
He told MPs that, based on cases known to his organisation, some stolen motorcycles had been recovered through surveillance camera footage rather than through the digital number plate system.
Additional concerns were raised by Kezekia Bwire, Vice Chairperson of the Uganda Clearing Industry and Forwarding Association, who said some clients had experienced difficulties obtaining responses from the service provider.
Bwire also told the committee that several vehicles and motorcycles had remained untraced, raising questions about the effectiveness of the monitoring system.
Responding to the concerns, Global Security Project Manager for the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System, Damir Makhmutov, acknowledged that the company had received concerns from government over shortages and delays in the supply and installation of digital number plates.
Makhmutov attributed some of the delays to disruptions affecting consignments but said the company had the capacity to install up to 1,500 digital number plates per day.
He told the committee that 1,307 installations had been completed as of September 23, 2026.
The latest concerns come amid broader complaints from business associations over delays and shortages in accessing digital number plates.
The Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), which previously appeared before the same committee, also raised concerns that prolonged waiting periods were affecting vehicle dealers and other businesses.
The concerns have placed renewed attention on the structure of the digital number plate project, including the role of the private contractor, the cost to motorists, the participation of local manufacturers and the system’s effectiveness in delivering the security and transport-management benefits envisaged by government.
The Committee on Physical Infrastructure is expected to complete its inquiry and present its findings and recommendations to Parliament for consideration.
