The Ministry of Works and Transport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Security and Ministry of Internal Affairs, has officially inaugurated the Digital Number Plates Project. The launch event took place on Wednesday at the Ministry of Works and Transport offices on Old Port Bell Road.
These number plates feature an embedded chip known as the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), which is capable of storing essential information about the assigned vehicle. This innovation enables instant and automatic vehicle identification.
Beyond the incorporation of computer chips, these digital plates are equipped with batteries and a comprehensive wireless communication system.
Speaking during the launch, Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Works, emphasized that the ITMS will play a pivotal role in enhancing national security and controlling vehicle-related crimes while respecting the privacy rights of citizens.
Additionally, the system is anticipated to have a profound impact on road safety, particularly in curbing reckless driving. Through a network of CCTV cameras, the ITMS will enable continuous monitoring, providing the authorities with the means to strengthen enforcement efforts.
The launch event featured the fitting of digital number plates on selected vehicles for demonstration purposes. The full-scale implementation of this initiative is slated to commence on February 1, 2024.
The rollout will be accompanied by an extensive public awareness and education campaign to ensure that citizens are well-informed about the benefits and functionality of the new digital number plates. With this initiative, Uganda is poised to embrace a modern, technology-driven approach to enhance national security and road safety.
The proposed cost for the new digital number plates suggests that vehicle and motorcycle owners will be charged Shs714,000 for the plates while existing registered road users will be obligated to pay Shs150,000 for vehicles and Shs50,000 for motorcycles.
