Car dealers petition Transport Ministry over slow digital number plates process
CAPTION: Used cars parked in a bond at Nakawa July 9th 2025.
By Our reporter
KAMPALA – A Russian company, Joint Stock Company Global Security, which recently introduced digital number plates in Uganda, is in the spotlight over allegedly deliberate slow management that has created room for kickbacks. New vehicle and motorcycle owners to pay Shs714,000 for these innovative number plates, while exchanging existing plates costs Shs150,000 for motor vehicles and Shs50,000 for motorcycles.
Referred to as the Intelligent Transport Management Systems (ITMS), the plate system aims at enhancing security and vehicle tracking. The digital plates are embedded with chips, part of a broader initiative to modernise the country’s vehicle registration and road safety.
On July 1, 2023, vehicle registration and number plate functions were transferred from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), which is managed by Joint Stock Company Global Security.
According to members of the Car Dealers Association in Uganda, ever since the new management took charge, the process has affected their business.
“Before, it would take two to three days to get a number plate, which cost Shs150,000, but now we pay Shs175,000 and it takes two to three weeks. Our clients are not happy because they have to wait for weeks to get their vehicles,” said Waqas A. Pasha, director Tadashi Trading Company (U) Ltd.
CAPTION: Malik Azhar (L), Chairman, Car Dealers Association in Uganda with Malik Asim (R) Director, Al-Zaryab Motors Ltd address journalists at their office in Nakawa July 9th 2025.
(Photo by Stephen Wandera)
In a mini survey on Wednesday, July 9th 2025, Parash said the delay is deliberate to ensure the officials are bribed.
“If you pay some extra money, you get the number plates in a few days; if not, you have to wait for weeks.
Muhamad Usama, Director Fuji Motors said the delay is too much and if the situation does not normalise, many of the car dealers will be pushed out of business because they will not be able to raise money for the minimal operation of their companies.
Malik Azhar, Chairman, Car Dealers Association in Uganda, said the delay means increased cost of doing business.
“We are not against the Russian Company, but what we would like to emphasise is that every day, our members pay packing fees for the vehicles; the more days they are packed, the more we pay. Before, on average, our members would clear ten to fifteen cars per week. But now one can clear one to three vehicles only. This means our turnover of sales has reduced, and this also affects revenue collection,” he said.
Malik Asim, Director Al-Zaryab Motors Ltd, urged Joint Stock Company Global Security to speed up the process since increased turnover benefits all of them.
“As car dealers, we will sell more units. the Russian company, Joint Stock Company Global Security will also get more money, likewise Uganda Revenue Authority will collect more revenue. We request the Ministry of Works and Transport to intervene and make things work easier,” he said.
