Government has revealed that more than 290,000 vehicles and motorcycles have so far been fitted with digital number plates, marking a major milestone in efforts to modernize transport security.
Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Commissioner of Transport Regulation and Safety, Winstone Katushabe, said the Ministry of Works and Transport has installed 218,781 digital plates on motorcycles and 71,472 on motor vehicles.
“Since the system was introduced, we have installed digital number plates on 218,781 motorcycles and 71,472 motor vehicles,” Katushabe told the committee.
The figures bring the total number of digitally registered units to over 290,000, reflecting steady progress in the rollout of the Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS).
Katushabe dismissed reports of a shortage of digital number plates, attributing recent delays to logistical challenges affecting the supplier.
“One of the challenges the supplier faced was transporting key components, but we have been assured that stock levels are now adequate,” he said, adding that a verification exercise is underway.
He noted that global geopolitical tensions, including the Iran–Israel conflict, have disrupted the supply chain for critical components such as tracking chips.
The commissioner also addressed concerns about alleged theft of digital number plates, assuring the public that the system is secure and closely integrated with law enforcement.
“In case of theft, vehicle owners should report to police immediately. The system is linked to the Police Command Centre, which can detect and track the plates in real time,” he explained.
Rolled out in 2022 by the government through the Ministries of Works and Transport and Security, the ITMS is a 10-year initiative aimed at curbing vehicle-related crime.
The system incorporates RFID tracking chips, QR codes, and tamper-detection features, enabling real-time monitoring and faster response by security agencies.
Implementation has been phased, beginning with government vehicles in 2023, extending to motorcycles in November 2024, and becoming mandatory for all new private vehicle registrations from January 6, 2025.
Motorists currently pay Shs714,300 for new digital number plates, while replacement of existing plates costs Shs150,000, reflecting the advanced security features embedded in the system.
