Works Ministry Halts Motor Vehicle Registration over Network Outage

The suspension comes during the Christmas holiday period, a typically busy time for vehicle transactions and licensing, and may delay registrations, transfers and issuance of number plates.

Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport said on Wednesday it had temporarily suspended motor vehicle registration services nationwide after a network outage disrupted system connectivity.

In a public notice, the ministry said the interruption stemmed from a service disruption at its network provider, Uganda Telecom which affected access to the Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) system and halted all related operations.

“Our technical teams are working closely with the service provider to restore connectivity and resume services as soon as possible,” the ministry said, without giving a timeline for full restoration.

The suspension comes during the Christmas holiday period, traditionally one of the busiest seasons for vehicle purchases, transfers and licensing, and is expected to delay registrations, ownership changes and issuance of number plates.

According to government and industry data, Uganda’s registered vehicle fleet has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by rising urbanisation, growth in ride-hailing services and increased imports of used vehicles from Asia.

The country had more than 2.3 million registered motor vehicles by mid-2024, up from fewer than 1 million a decade earlier, with Kampala and the surrounding metropolitan area accounting for the largest share.

Transport sector analysts said even short-term disruptions to the MVR system can have knock-on effects across the economy. Vehicle dealers may face delays in completing sales, while insurance companies, banks and leasing firms — which require valid registration details to process cover and financing — could see transaction backlogs.

“Motor vehicle registration sits at the centre of several commercial activities, from car sales and insurance to logistics and ride-hailing,” said Moses Atukunda, a Kampala-based transport economist.

“Any outage, especially during peak seasons, temporarily freezes a chain of business transactions.”

The ministry apologised for the inconvenience and urged the public to remain patient as repairs continue.

Uganda has increasingly digitised public services in recent years, but outages linked to telecom and network infrastructure remain a recurring risk for government platforms reliant on centralised connectivity.