KAMPALA — Frustration is mounting among Ugandan car dealers as the nation’s digital number plate project encounters significant hurdles. From lengthy operational delays to questions about the system’s security efficacy, the initiative, intended to modernize vehicle identification, is facing intense scrutiny.
The core issue, according to dealers, lies in the project’s implementation. “We’re seeing delays of three to five days just to get number plates fitted,” a Kampala-based dealer told this website, speaking anonymously. “This is due to payment reconciliation problems, and then there are further delays in obtaining logbooks. It’s creating a major bottleneck.”
This bottleneck stems from a payment system that dealers describe as poorly integrated, leading to significant reconciliation challenges. Compounding the issue is the service provider’s limited stock of number plate materials, resulting in frequent shortages and disruptions to business operations. “We’re constantly running out of stock,” another dealer lamented. “The provider simply can’t keep up with demand.”
Beyond the logistical challenges, manpower shortages and a lack of adequate training are also contributing to the growing discontent. The promised establishment of permanent fitment centers at nine bonded warehouses has yet to materialize, and existing staffing is deemed inadequate. Dealers also cite a lack of knowledge among customer care representatives, leaving the public confused and frustrated.
“The customer service is appalling,” one dealer said. “They don’t know the project details, and they can’t answer basic questions.”
The project’s payment structure has also drawn sharp criticism. The requirement for upfront payment, disregarding established hire purchase and installment arrangements, is seen as a major flaw. “This system is completely out of touch with how the automotive industry operates,” a dealer explained. “It ignores the reality of hire purchase agreements, which are crucial for many Ugandans.”
A critical point of contention revolves around the system’s security efficacy. The inability to recover motorcycles stolen in December 2024, despite the implementation of digital plates, has severely undermined public confidence. “If these plates can’t even help recover stolen motorcycles, what’s the point?” a dealer questioned.
Concerns about transparency are also mounting. The lack of public awareness, despite the project’s suspension in July 2023 due to inadequate sensitization, has left many Ugandans uninformed about the new processes, costs, and regulations. “There’s been no proper public education campaign,” a dealer said. “People are completely in the dark.”
The high cost of the digital plates, significantly higher than in neighboring countries, has further fueled public anger.
Ugandans are required to pay 150,000 Ugandan shillings for vehicle replacements and 50,000 shillings for motorcycles, effectively paying twice for the same service.
New registrations cost 714,300 shillings, compared to Kenya’s significantly lower fees. Dealers are urging the government to address these systemic issues, emphasizing the need for greater transparency, efficiency, and affordability in the implementation of the digital number plate system.
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