Every vehicle and motorcycle in Uganda must now carry a digital number plate, at up to Shs714,300. In five years, the project has never been audited. This month, Parliament heard four different figures for what it costs, the Attorney General said the contract contradicts Ugandan law, and MPs learned the plate itself can’t be tracked.
In this episode:
• Where the idea came from: the 2018 assassinations
• How Russia’s Joint Stock Company Global Security got the contract without open bidding
• Does it work? 90% of stolen cars recovered, 22% of motorcycles
• What you pay, and the four price tags for one project
• EPS Auto: the fines system the revenue model relied on
• Why the Auditor General never got in
The company’s position: Global Security says its 2021 agreement met all legal and procedural requirements, that it has invested $115m, installed over 470,000 plates and employs 320 people, 94% of them Ugandan. It says supply delays were caused by shipping disruptions. The parliamentary committee has not yet reported.
SOURCES:
Nile Post, “MPs Order Detention of Two Auditors Over Unaudited Digital Number Plate Project” (14 Oct 2026): https://nilepost.co.ug/news/378485/mps-order-detention-of-two-auditors-over-unaudited-digital-number-plate-project
UBC, “MPs Detain Auditor General Officials Over Failure to Audit US$257m ITMS Project” (15 Oct 2026): https://ubc.go.ug/2026/10/15/mps-detain-auditor-general-officials-over-failure-to-audit-us257m-itms-project
Parliament of Uganda, “Police not involved in procurement of digital number plates – Otafiire” (13 Oct 2026): https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4658/police-not-involved-procurement-digital-number-plates-otafiire
Nile Post, “Parliament Questions Legality of Digital Number Plate Deal Over $134m Cost Discrepancy” (13 Oct 2026): https://nilepost.co.ug/news/378069/parliament-questions-legality-of-digital-number-plate-deal-over-134m-cost-discrepancy
Daily Monitor, “How ignored warnings, missing feasibility studies plagued Uganda’s digital plates project” (13 Oct 2026): https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-ignored-warnings-missing-feasibility-studies-plagued-uganda-s-digital-plates-project-5630898
The Independent, “Katumba, Otafiire disagree over functionality of ITMS tracking system” (14 Oct 2026): https://www.independent.co.ug/katumba-otafiire-disagree-over-functionality-of-itms-tracking-system/
The Observer, “Russian firm JSC tables agreement for digital number plates” (12 Oct 2026): https://observer.ug/news/russian-firm-jsc-tables-legit-agreement-for-digital-number-plates/
Eagle Online, “Attorney General tears apart Shs3.6tn digital plate deal” (7 Oct 2026): https://eagle.co.ug/2026/10/07/attorney-general-tears-apart-shs3-6tn-digital-plate-deal-as-jim-muhwezi-distances-himself-from-project-he-defended/
Daily Monitor, “Attorney General declares 2021 digital number plates contract null, illegal” (6 Oct 2026): https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/attorney-general-declares-2021-digital-number-plates-contract-null-illegal-5616458
Thraets, “Surveillance or Security Revisited” (Oct 2026): https://thraets.org/surveillance-or-security-revisited/
Parliament of Uganda, “Digital number plates help recover 90 percent stolen cars – Security Minister” (30 Sept 2026): https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4641/digital-number-plates-help-recover-90-percent-stolen-cars-security-minister
The Observer, “Russian firm defends digital plate delays, pledges 1,500 daily installations” (29 Sept 2026): https://observer.ug/news/russian-firm-defends-digital-plate-delays-pledges-1500-daily-installations/
Sanyu FM, “Parliament Probes UGX 106B Tax Loss in Digital Number Plate Project” (29 Sept 2026): https://sanyufm.com/parliament-probes-ugx-106b-tax-loss-in-digital-number-plate-project/
Daily Monitor, “Parliament launches probe into digital number plate delays costing Shs4b weekly” (2 Sept 2026): https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/parliament-launches-probe-into-digital-number-plate-delays-costing-shs4b-weekly-5581602
Pulse Uganda, “Government suspends automated traffic fines” (11 Jun 2025): https://www.pulse.ug/story/government-suspends-automated-traffic-fines-2025061117583208885
The Independent, “URA prepares for digital car plates after court throws out case” (26 Jun 2023): https://www.independent.co.ug/ura-prepares-for-digital-number-plates-after-court-throws-out-case/
Daily Monitor, “Stalled Busega-Mpigi Expressway works resume after a year’s hiatus” (10 Mar 2026): https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/stalled-busega-mpigi-expressway-works-resume-after-a-year-s-hiatus–5386042
Daily Monitor, “Lubowa hospital’s completion date now targeted for late 2026” (31 Oct 2025): https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/lubowa-hospital-s-completion-date-now-targeted-for-late-2026-5250690
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