Uganda’s rollout of digital number plates has hit a slow lane, with only a handful fitted on government vehicles since their launch last November. While over 1.8 million vehicles ply Ugandan roads, a mere 240, primarily government cars belonging to the Ministry of Works and Transport and the police, currently sport the new plates.
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Explaining the sluggish progress, Ministry spokesperson Susan Kataike cites logistical hurdles. The digital number plates, manufactured by a Russian company in Poland, face delays due to the ongoing sanctions on Russia. These sanctions, imposed for the Ukraine invasion, complicate the import process.
However, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The same Russian company plans to establish a local manufacturing plant in Uganda by July 1st. This local production should streamline the process and expedite plate distribution.
President Museveni championed the digital number plates initiative during his 2021 address, aiming to enhance security by tracking criminal activity involving vehicles.
Phased Rollout: Government First, Public Later
The current installation of digital number plates focuses on government vehicles, with the Works Ministry offices and a contractor-run fitting center in Kawempe handling the process. The exact number of government vehicles remains unclear, as an official registry is still under development.
The mass rollout for private vehicles is pushed back to July 1st. This delay allows the government to ramp up public awareness campaigns and address logistical challenges.
Cost Concerns for Private Owners
The switch won’t be cheap for private owners. Replacing existing plates will cost UGX150,000 for cars and UGX 50,000 for motorcycles. New vehicle registrations will require a heftier UGX 714,000 fee to include the digital number plates.
While the digital plates promise security advantages, their rollout has gotten off to a slow start. With local production on the horizon and a delayed public launch, Ugandans will have to wait a while longer before these high-tech plates become a common sight on their roads.
