Putting aside the controversies surrounding the rollout of Uganda’s digital number plates, it’s worth understanding what the different formats represent. Unlike the old registration system, which mainly relied on alphabetical identifiers, the digital number plate system combines coded numbers, letter combinations and colours to identify vehicle categories, ownership, and, in many cases, the institution they belong to.

Private & Commercial Plates (Cars, Motorcycles, & Trailers)
UA 001AA: With black characters displayed on a white plate, this is the standard digital number plate issued to private and commercial vehicles in Uganda, such as a taxi in Park Enkadde or a family car. They are printed in rectangular and square formats for the front and back, depending on the vehicle.

UA 000AA: Distinguished by red characters on a white plate, these registration plates are issued to vehicles granted tax exemptions or special import privileges, including some vehicles belonging to NGOs, persons with disabilities and returning citizens relocating with their vehicles.

U00001D: These registration plates are issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to licensed motor vehicle dealers, garages and vehicle importers, according to Patrick Mpairwe, a supervisor at the URA.

UMA 000AA (White): Black characters printed on a white square plate; this format is issued to motorcycles operating as public transport providers such as Boda Bodas.

UMA 000AA (Yellow): Black characters slapped on a yellow square plate; these are issued to privately owned motorcycles.

T UA 0001AA: Black characters printed on a white plate; these are digital number plates issued to privately owned and commercial trailers in Uganda.

Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
UG XX 00001: Red characters on a white plate; this is a digital number plate format used by central government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The first two digits, XX, after UG represent the specific ministry or agency. For instance, the code UG 01 00001 is used by the Office of the President, UG 03 00001 by the Electoral Commission, and UG 12 00001 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries.

This system introduced a new way of identifying government vehicles, moving away from alphabetic prefixes that denoted MDAs. Full list of MDAs number plate codes here.

Government Trailers
UG XX T001: Printed in red on a white plate, these are digital number plates issued to Trailers owned by specific government ministries, departments and agencies. The initial two digits, XX, after UG identify the corresponding MDA. For instance, UG 38 T001 is issued to a trailer used by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Government Agencies and Authorities
UA XX 001AA: Featuring light-blue characters on a white plate, these number plates are issued to government agencies, authorities, and corporations operating under certain ministries, identifiable by the first two digits, XX, after UA. For instance, UA 12 025AA is used by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Uganda Police Force
UP 00001: Printed on a white plate with red characters, these number plates are reserved for vehicles operated by the Uganda Police Force.

Uganda Prisons Service
UU 00001: Printed on a white plate with red characters, these number plates distinguish vehicles belonging to the Uganda Prisons Service.

Local Governments
LG XXX 0001: Printed on a white plate with red characters, these number plates are issued to local government cars (districts and municipalities). The initial three digits, XXX, after LG identify the district or municipality. For instance, local government cars in Kira Municipal have digital number plates that follow LG 139 0001. Find your area’s local government digital number plate code here.

Diplomatic Vehicles
CD XXX 000U: These plates, printed on a white background with blue characters, are issued to diplomatic missions and accredited diplomatic personnel in Uganda. The first three digits, XXX, identify each mission in Uganda. For instance, CD 001 000U is used by the British High Commission in Uganda, CD 002 000U by the American Embassy in Uganda, and CD 014 000U by the Russian Embassy in Uganda.

UN WFP 0001: Printed in blue on a white background, these digital number plates are used by the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) in Uganda. Any number plate beginning with UN belongs to a United Nations agency operating in Uganda.

Summary of Uganda Digital Number Plate Colours
Black characters on white: Private and commercial vehicles
Red characters on white: Government and exempt vehicles
Light blue characters on white: Government agencies and authorities
Blue characters on white: Diplomatic and UN-related vehicles
Black characters on yellow: Private motorcycles.