In a digital age, anything labelled “digital” comes with high expectations. Uganda’s rollout of digital number plates was no exception—welcomed for its promised innovation yet criticised for the cost. The most striking feature? Real-time tracking, like something straight out of a movie where authorities can locate a vehicle with a simple scan.
Alas, the digital number plates have arrived, but the ‘digital’ powers must have dropped off while still in the factories. Vehicles are still being stolen with no sign of real-time tracking, operational inefficiencies are rampant, and the high costs remain just as frustrating.
What Was Promised vs. What We Got
The whole idea behind these digital plates was to enhance vehicle security and improve monitoring. The Government of Uganda, through its contract with the Russian company Joint Stock Company (JSC) Global Security, assured Ugandans of real-time tracking features that would render car theft obsolete. But now, reports are flying in about stolen vehicles with the so-called ‘digital’ number plates, and to everyone’s surprise, they are just as untraceable as the old plates.
John Ssemakula, a Boda Boda rider in Kampala, shared his frustration after his motorcycle was stolen. “We were told these plates would protect us from theft… I reported it to the police, but they told me they couldn’t track it.” So, if the plates can’t even help recover stolen vehicles, what exactly makes them ‘digital’ apart from the name?
The Manufacturer Drama
Then there’s the issue of who is actually behind the production of these digital number plates. Turns out, JSC Global Security isn’t even manufacturing them—they’re just a middleman importing them from Poland! This has rubbed many Ugandans the wrong way, especially since a local company, Tumpeco, could produce them but was sidelined under the pretext of “more advanced foreign knowledge” or something like that. Now, the country is paying foreign prices for digital number plates that could have been produced locally, probably at a cheaper rate.
Besides the tracking failures, users have raised concerns about the implementation process. Long waiting times, bureaucratic payment procedures, and a lack of transparency have made acquiring the digital number plates a frustrating experience. A vehicle owner from Wakiso lamented, “We’ve seen people pay for their plates and wait for months without receiving them.”
Even riders, who are often at risk of theft, aren’t convinced about the plates’ effectiveness. One rider, Joseph Musa, put it plainly: “There’s nothing special about these plates… I don’t see any difference, so I don’t think it’s worth paying for,” and indeed, as of now these plates are proving to be just a redesign of the old normal plate, albeit with an electronic chip to store the registration details.
The Cost Factor (Digital Number Plate Price in Uganda)
And then there is the pricing. The cost of getting these digital plates is significantly higher than what neighbouring countries charge. In Uganda, a new registration costs UGX 714,300, and replacements go for UGX 150,000. Meanwhile, Kenya has a similar digital plate system, but their costs are much lower. So, are we paying for security, or are we just paying for a fancy plate with an electronic chip that stores registration data?
What Needs to Change?
For digital number plates to truly live up to their name, some serious adjustments need to be made:
- Actual Real-Time Tracking: If security is the main selling point, then the tracking system needs to work.
- Integration with CCTV and Law Enforcement Systems: If these plates were supposed to help combat crime, then they should be linked to Uganda’s security infrastructure.
- Better Implementation and Transparency: Delays, confusion over payments, and the general inefficiency in acquiring these plates need to be addressed.
- Revisiting the Cost: If other countries can implement similar systems at lower costs, why can’t we? Are our cars bigger than the rest?
At this point, calling these number plates ‘digital’ feels like false advertising, a hoax to many at least. They’re more like overpriced regular plates with a chip that barely does anything useful. For now, the biggest ‘digital’ feature they offer is the ability to digitally drain Ugandans’ wallets, and until the system is improved to deliver on its promises, it’s hard to see these plates as anything more than another expensive government project that fails to meet expectations.
Uganda Launches Phase 3 Digital License Plates
