Russian firm JSC tables legit agreement for digital number plates

What the report says

The Observer reports that Russian firm Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSC GS) has taken documentary evidence to Uganda’s Parliament to show that its agreement on the digital number plate project was properly concluded under legal and procedural requirements. The material was presented in a closed-door session with the parliamentary committee on Physical Infrastructure and police representatives, alongside an agreement dated July 23, 2021 and signed by officials from the Office of the President, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and JSC GS.

According to the newspaper, the agreement gave the company authority to implement the Digital Number Plate Project, which it says is backed by a $115 million investment and includes national vehicle-monitoring infrastructure. The move comes as MPs continue to examine the project’s cost, implementation and the contractor’s capacity, even as they say inspections have shown the system can track both cars and motorcycles. During a demonstration at the Naguru police command centre on October 2, lawmakers watched the tracking system in operation.

Committee chair Mwine Mpaka said the inspection confirmed the system’s ability to follow both motor vehicles and motorbikes, while stressing that Parliament is still reviewing cost and delivery issues. Police leadership has also said the system is useful in investigations. JSC project manager Damir Makhmutov told MPs the project has created jobs, trained staff and supported local suppliers. The company also said it had installed more than 470,000 plates by September 30, 2026 and cleared a supply backlog after earlier disruptions. In a broader policy context, digital number plate systems are typically used to improve vehicle identification, enforcement and security, but the specific figures and claims here are those reported by The Observer.