Digital plates: MPs must uncover what Shs 714,300 actually buys!

What the report says

The Observer says Uganda’s digital number plate programme has become the subject of parliamentary scrutiny, with lawmakers pressing the government to explain what motorists are actually paying for under the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS). The article centers on the cost of a digital plate, which it says has risen to about Shs 714,300 from Shs 137,000, and argues that the public needs clarity on how much of that amount covers the plate itself versus the tracking equipment used alongside it.

According to the report, committee chairperson Mwine Mpaka clarified that the plate alone does not track vehicles; that function comes from a separate GPS device installed with it. The piece says former MP Abdul Katuntu has questioned why citizens should pay an additional Shs 577,300 and what benefits justify the higher charge. It adds that Parliament is examining whether the system’s results can be linked directly to ITMS or to other policing tools such as CCTV and conventional investigations.

The article also raises financial, procurement and privacy concerns. It cites police claims that the system has helped recover stolen vehicles and motorcycles, while noting questions over the contractor’s experience, delays in delivery and the scale of potential revenue over the life of the deal. It further says MPs should seek details on who can access location data, under what authority and with what safeguards. The report frames the issue as one of accountability: modern security technology may be useful, but citizens should know the cost, the purpose and the protections attached to it.