news 6 July 2026 Nile Post
Digital Number Plate Backlog to be Cleared by August, Officials Promise
The Ministry of Works and Transport and the contractor for Uganda's digital number plate system have committed to resolving a significant backlog in vehicle registration and plate issuance by the end of August. Delays have severely impacted vehicle trade and led to considerable frustration among motorists and dealers. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/354059/govt-contractor-promise-august-deadline-to-clear-digital-number-plate-backlog
Uganda’s vehicle and motorcycle industry is facing considerable strain due to a persistent backlog in the issuance of digital number plates. Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, acknowledged the severe operational and economic challenges this is creating, affecting both businesses and individual vehicle owners.
Motorcycle distribution companies have reported drastic reductions in daily sales, with some unable to release stock. Dealers, despite having paid taxes to the Uganda Revenue Authority, are unable to deliver vehicles to customers awaiting their digital plates. “The business environment is under pressure. People have paid money, but they cannot access number plates. Businesses are being affected,” stated Minister Byamukama.
The congestion is also evident in post-registration services, which handle replacements for lost, damaged, or voluntarily changed plates. The contractor currently processes approximately 2,500 such applications monthly, but a backlog of over 47,000 applications persists. To alleviate this, the ministry is considering temporary measures, including pausing voluntary number plate changes to prioritize urgent cases.
The contractor has pledged to resolve the backlog by August 30th. Delays for newly registered vehicles are expected to be addressed within three weeks. Minister Byamukama warned that these delays have unfortunately created opportunities for exploitation, with some intermediaries reportedly charging exorbitant fees to expedite plate replacements.
Nikita Novoselov, production director for the digital number plate project, attributed the delays primarily to global logistics disruptions affecting component delivery, rather than a lack of production capacity. He assured that all backlogs would be cleared by the August deadline and that the system would stabilize within three weeks.
Novoselov also addressed concerns about vehicle tracking, stating that the system functions effectively when proper procedures are followed. However, he noted instances of deliberate tampering with tracking devices, which authorities are working to combat.
Source: Nile Post