By Aggrey Baba
Kassanda North MP Patrick Nsamba (NUP) on Wednesday ignited a fresh debate on the controversial digital number plate project after raising concerns in Parliament about whether the system is actually working as promised.
Nsamba reminded the House that MPs had supported funding for the digital plates on the understanding that they would improve security by making it easy to track vehicles and support investigations. However, he said a recent incident involving a friend whose home was attacked has left him questioning that very promise.
He told Parliament that efforts to use the digital number plates to trace the suspects’ vehicle reportedly failed, raising serious doubts about the effectiveness of the system.
The NUP MP demanded an explanation from both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the company implementing the project.
By the time Nsamba’s concern came, more Ugandans were quietly raising similar complaints. Several var and motorcycle owners who lost their rides, despite having the digital number plates installed, have reportedly failed to get help from the Police in tracing them and this has only deepened public frustration over a system many expected would reduce or even eradicate vehicle in theft the country.
The digital number plates were introduced under the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), with government promising tighter security, reduced vehicle theft and improved traffic management.
Each plate reportedly comes with a GPS tracking chip and a QR code, marketed as key tools in fighting crime.
The project, being implemented by Joint Stock Company Global Security, costs car owners between UGX 735,000 and UHX 750,000 per plate, a price that has already been a source of discomfort for many Ugandans.
Government has consistently defended the system, saying it will strengthen policing and make it easier to respond to crime in real time. The rollout started in 2023, with government vehicles, later extended to motorcycles, and is now mandatory for all new vehicle. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
