The opposition Forum for Democratic Change party has asked the government to stop plans to introduce computerized number plates, saying the policy doesn’t favor ordinary people.
FDC suspects that some government officials could be plotting to manipulate the new policy to defraud tax payers, describing it as a huge blow to Uganda’s already limping economy.
Harold Kaijja, the deputy FDC Secretary General, told journalists from Najjanankumbi, the party headquarters, that the new policy will only serve to escalate economic burdens on ordinary people whose incomes are way below the standard.
“The government just wants to pick up taxpayer money and waste it on unclear expenditures. In Kenya, the chip attached to the number plates goes for about Shs30,000, and yet the government is asking for Shs730,000,” said Harold.
Kaijja questioned why the government opted for a Russian manufacturer to provide the number plates against credible local companies in Uganda.
“Companies like Wavamumo, who have been manufacturing number plates before, have not been given a chance, but a company from Russia with no record of manufacturing number plates is being fronted,” said Kaijja.
The government, through the Ministry of Works, recently put on hold the implementation of the new car plate scheme that was expected to kick off on July 1st. This stemmed from the directive of the Inspectorate of Government.
In a communication to Parliament, the state minister for Works, Fred Byamukama, complained after the contractor allegedly failed to make a timely delivery of the consignment.
The Inspector General of Government’s (IGG) order and the failure by the Russian firm, Joint Stock Company Global Security, to supply the new number plates prompted an emergency meeting chaired by Security Minister Jim Muhwezi and attended by top officials of the Works and Security Ministries as well as Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials.
In 2021, the government hand-picked the Russian firm to supply digital number plates embedded with surveillance chips under the envisaged Intelligent Transport Motoring System.
