The Government has suspended the issuing of new digital car number plates earlier planned to start tomorrow, July 1st, 2023, following an order of the Inspectorate of Government and the contractor’s failure to deliver the consignment on time.
The State Minister for Transport and Works, Fred Byamukama, confirmed the suspension of the issue of the new digital number plates.
He said that the ministry was at 95% ready to roll out the exercise; however, the problem is on the contractor’s side, with suppliers delaying the shipment of the brand-new number plates.
In 2021, the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) and the Ministry of Security, acting on behalf of the government, contracted Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSCGS), a Russian firm, to supply digital number plates embedded with surveillance chips under the envisaged Intelligent Transport Motoring System (ITMS).
Concerns about privacy and the price of purchasing the new digital plates have already been voiced by members of parliament, the general public, and rights groups. The tax body also raised red flags over the preparedness of responsible agencies and the contracted firm to roll out the project.
The works minister is expected to make an official announcement about the suspension today.