Politics 14 October 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Ministers Clash Over Digital Number Plates Project
Ugandan cabinet ministers Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala and Gen. Kahinda Otafiire have presented conflicting views on the country's digital number plates system. While Katumba champions it as a vital security tool, Otafiire has labeled it "useless.". Source: https://observer.ug/news/katumba-otafiire-clash-over-digital-number-plates
A significant disagreement has emerged within Uganda’s cabinet regarding the controversial Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) and its associated digital number plates. Public Service Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, a former Works and Transport Minister, defended the project as a crucial security initiative.
According to Katumba, the system is designed to enhance crime detection and improve the tracking of vehicles, ultimately aiding law enforcement. He stated that the project was a presidential directive aimed at creating an integrated vehicle monitoring system to support police investigations, involving multiple government bodies.
Conversely, Water and Environment Minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, who previously served as Internal Affairs Minister, expressed strong skepticism about the system’s value. Otafiire dismissed the digital plates as “useless,” admitting he was unaware of any improvements in its performance. He questioned the decision to abandon the previous system managed by a local company, Wavamunno, and suggested that commercially available fleet-monitoring systems are more advanced.
Otafiire’s concerns, presented to Parliament’s physical infrastructure committee, focused on the system’s initial implementation, which he described as having minimal impact due to limited equipment. He also contrasted the current system unfavorably with the previous Huawei-equipped CCTV infrastructure, despite that system having faced its own corruption allegations during his tenure.
However, the Police Director of ICT, AIGP Felix Baryamwisaki, presented data indicating the system’s success. He reported that the digital number plate system had been instrumental in tracking and recovering 337 out of 375 reported stolen motor vehicles, representing about 90% of cases.
The parliamentary committee is now tasked with evaluating these contrasting submissions alongside operational data and procurement records to determine the project’s true effectiveness.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)