After years of postponement, President Yoweri Museveni’s government says it is now determined to install digital number plates in all vehicles under Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS). The Ministry of Works and Transport has set a date when it will start implementing the project.
The ministry is also looking at the digital number plates will help reduce crime where suspects attack riding on bodabodas – commercial motorcycles – and disappear using the same motorbikes.
Museveni’s government will ensure that all vehicles can easily be tracked in real time so that those who use them for crime can be easily identified and arrested.
“Boda-boda related crime activity has notably been on the rise across the country and especially in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area,” said the ministry in a statement.
“The new Intelligent Transport Monitoring System will enable real time tracking and identification of motor bike and other vehicle users which will greatly mitigate the security threats that are posed by criminals who wrongfully use motorbikes.”
It further explained that the electronic device in the digital number plates will make it impossible for criminals and unscrupulous owners to tamper with the plates.
To be able to track vehicle users involved in crime and traffic offences, Uganda Police Force (UPF) on behalf of the security ministry, will host a surveillance command center.
“The plates have an electronic device fitted to them, this device allows for vehicle real time tracking as well as hinders tampering with the vehicle registration plates. So unlike our usual number plates which criminals have made a habit of removing and replacing, these ones cannot be tampered with,” the transport ministry explained.
“The Command center is in place, at Uganda Police headquarters in Naguru. Seeing as this is a joint venture between Ministry of Works and Transport, and Ministry of Security, our own police force will man that center.
The new registration number plates prioritize safety of all road users by streamlining the issuance of motor vehicle fines which will influence driver behavior, ease identification of road traffic offenders or law breakers & improve electronic policing.”
There are more motorcycles than cars in Uganda. Government has already met some motorcycle operators “in an attempt to streamline issues as we work towards digitalizing all boda bodas registration in the country,” according to the transport ministry. Last month, the Chief Licensing Officer at the transport ministry, Winstone Katushabe, met the motorcycle dealers.
Government says ITMS has already begun, with the first phase being the fitment of digital number plates on Government of Uganda (GoU) vehicles.
Government says the installation of number plates for other vehicles will begin next month.
“The resolve to commence the new registration and fitment of Digital Number Plates on Motorcycles this July is therefore very timely,” the transport ministry announced.
On this news site, you can read about how much money the Russian company will earn from bodaboda and car owners for the new digital number plates; the controversy surrounding the Russian company; as well as an ugly fight between two of Museveni’s ministers, both former bush war fighters, with one of the ministers even claiming that the mafia at State House had hidden a letter he wrote to Museveni exposing the dirt in the digital number plates’ deal. (Stories are Here, There and Over There).
(For advertising, sponsored content or story tips, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).
