The Ministry of Works and Transport is set to roll out the 3rd phase of digital registration of number plates.
The exercise, which will begin on 6th January 2025, will target the fitting of the digital plates on privately owned vehicles.
Under the 1st phase, the ministry was able to fit the digital plates on 2082 government vehicles, and phase two saw a total of 7824 motorcycles fitted with digital registration plates.
Gen. Edward Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, noted that the fitment of registration plates is to be done by the new service provider before the exit of each unit.
“Digital verification of all units will be done coupled with the fitment of the registration plate. The price of the new registration plate is UGX 714,300. Motor vehicles imported with taxes cleared at the ports of entry at Mombasa and Dar-es-Salaam will be allowed to exit from the CFSs for fitment and registration to be done at the border entry points of Malaba and Mutukula,” the minister said.
According to him, vehicles that are warehoused will be declared, get assessments for taxes, and make the necessary payments, including the payment for registration plates, and the plate fitment will be done at the bonded warehouse where the units are deposited.
“Registration of the vehicle is completed by fitment of the plates, allowing vehicle owners and agents to print logbooks and enable exit of the unit,” he added.
Uganda’s digital number plates are part of the Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS), a project to help security agencies identify and track vehicles used by criminals.
The Government of Uganda in 2021 signed an agreement, partnering with Russian Joint Stock Company “Global Security,” to deliver the ITMS. The project is intended to ease recognition of vehicles used by criminals to carry out crimes in the country to enable quick and timely response by the security agencies.
It is also aimed at facilitating traffic management and enhancing revenue collection through the issuance of traffic tickets to traffic offenders.
The management and administration of motor vehicles had over the years faced challenges such as lack of a credible and reliable database, poor quality control measures, lack of technical staff in the motor vehicle processes, distorted reporting structures, low revenue collection, and discrepancies in registration books.
The new solution provides for tracking of all vehicles in real-time on the ITMS Platform at the Police Command Centers of Naguru and Nateete to allow the Government of Uganda to trace and resolve vehicle criminals/traffic offenders as and when required.
