Car Dealers Optimistic as ITMS Speeds Up Digital Number Plates Production

The Intelligence Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) has opened its doors to journalists and key stakeholders for a visibility study at its factory in Kawempe-Tula, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look into the production and installation process of Uganda’s new digital number plates.

The event, held on Thursday aimed at boosting public confidence and transparency, allowed participants to witness the full cycle of plate manufacturing, from digital printing, encoding, and storage, to final installation.

The guided tour highlighted ITMS’s role in transforming road security and vehicle traceability through a high-tech, integrated solution designed in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Among the stakeholders present was Mr. Kamunju Charles, the Chairman of the Car Dealers Association in Uganda, who said he attended the visit to verify for himself the progress in number plate production, explaining that many car dealers had expressed concern about delays, as several vehicles had been held up waiting for the new digital plates.

According to him, ITMS had maintained that production was ongoing and delivery would soon stabilize, prompting him to personally assess the situation.

Kamunju told the media that he was impressed by the ongoing work at the Kawempe facility, having observed the actual process of printing number plates and the large stock already in storage.

He pointed out that the backlog of pending vehicles had started to reduce during the week, and he expressed optimism that by the following week, most of the outstanding cases would have been resolved.

He further explained that he was able to view the digital tracking devices which are embedded into the number plates, devices which are part of a larger security framework that allows vehicles to be monitored and traced in the event of theft or criminal activity. He said this gave him confidence that the system was functional and would help improve safety on the roads.

Although he acknowledged that the cost of the new number plates remains high compared to the older ones, (with new vehicles and motorcycles paying UGX 714,000 and existing vehicles UGX 150,000) he said that dealers are willing to bear the cost for now, as long as distribution continues steadily and the backlog is addressed.

Kamunju also pointed out a challenge with the number plate fitters, stating that there have been delays due to some of them not reporting on time. However, officials from the ITMS told the media that the delays are caused by the team from the Ministry of Works with whom they work hand-in-hand, since their (ITMS) team is always on the ground. He recommended that efficiency be improved, suggesting that at least 300 cars and 1,500 motorcycles should be handled per day to keep up with demand.

ITMS handles the fitting of the plates at the Kawempe factory in close coordination with officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, and once a vehicle is scheduled, the installation process (which includes both the physical fitting and system activation) takes a maximum of 30 minutes.

As Uganda transitions into a fully digitized transport monitoring system, the Kawempe plant continues to play a crucial role in driving innovation, improving public trust, and enhancing road safety through the deployment of smart digital number plates