Russian Firm says it can Install 1,500 Digital Plates Daily as Global Shipping Disruptions Delay Supplies

What the report says

A Russian-linked company involved in Uganda’s digital number plate programme says it can speed up installations despite reported supply delays. At a parliamentary committee hearing on Monday, Damir Makhmutov, the project manager for the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System at Joint Stock Company Global Security, said the firm has enough staff and technical capacity to install up to 1,500 plates per day.

Makhmutov told MPs that the company had received a letter from government over the delays and said some of the disruption was linked to conflict affecting international shipping routes. He said the company had completed 1,307 installations as of September 23, but the committee noted it had not yet established exactly which shipments were delayed or for how long. The programme is being implemented under a 10-year agreement with the Ugandan government.

The hearing also raised wider concerns about the system’s performance and cost. Uganda Manufacturers Association board chairperson Richard Mubiru urged Parliament to review the company’s exclusive role, while committee chairperson Mwine Mpaka said lawmakers would seek answers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs on whether the security features were working as intended.

The discussion comes amid ongoing public scrutiny of the ITMS rollout, which has been linked in Uganda to vehicle tracking and theft recovery efforts. Parliament is expected to complete its inquiry and present findings after reviewing the company’s explanations and the ministry’s response.