By KAMPALA, UGANDA; A shortage of new digital license plates is stranding vehicles at bonded warehouses and inflicting financial losses on car dealers and customers, who say the delays undermine a government system intended to improve traffic management and security.
Motorists and dealers report that newly purchased vehicles are unable to operate legally on Ugandan roads because the required digital plates are unavailable. The plates are a key component of the government’s Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), introduced to enhance road security and help authorities track vehicles involved in crime.
Under the program, all newly registered vehicles must be fitted with the plates. However, owners say difficulties in obtaining them over the past week have left cars idling for days or weeks.
One motorist, who identified himself only as Apollo, said he was unable to drive his newly purchased vehicle after being told that the plates were unavailable.
“I went to buy a car around the bonds near Spear Motors traffic lights, and the Pakistani seller told me the new number plates had run out of stock. So I’m stuck and frustrated since I can’t have my car on the road just because of a mere lack of a number,” he said. Car dealers say the process of acquiring the new plates has become slower and more costly compared to the previous system. One dealer, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said a colleague applied for number plates two weeks ago but had not yet received them.
“This digital number plate thing is frustrating. A colleague applied for number plates two weeks ago, and as of March 13, he was still being told the application was under booking,” she said. She added that the cost of the plates—about Shs714,000—combined with delays, is hurting the vehicle trade. “The old number plates were more affordable and quicker. You would get them in a day or two, but now the process takes weeks,” the dealer stated. Other dealers said the delays also translate into additional charges because vehicles remain in bonded warehouses while awaiting registration. “Bonded warehouses keep accumulating charges before number plates are placed. If someone expects to make about Shs1 million a day on a vehicle that remains stuck in a bond, imagine the losses when the process takes two weeks or more,” the dealer added.
Mr Peter Kemba, a supervisor at Jambo Car Bond, acknowledged that delays still occur even though the government has reduced waiting times. “Initially, people would wait for a month or more, but now it takes about a week or two. However, we still urge the Ministry of Works and Transport to streamline the system,” he said. Mr Kemba noted that the delays affect both customers and dealers. “A customer pays for a vehicle, and you tell them to be patient. Some lose patience and think we are delaying or even scamming them. That hurts our reputation because most of our marketing depends on satisfied customers,” he said. However, the ministry said it had not received official reports indicating that the digital number plates are out of stock.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Ms Susan Kataike, said she would first consult the service provider before commenting further. “Let me first find out about them being out of stock, because as far as I’m concerned, we have not received such communication from the service provider. I will reach out and then respond,” Ms Kataike said at the weekend. Meanwhile, Mr Steven Turyarugayo, the ITMS public relations consultant, dismissed claims of widespread shortages, saying most applications are processed quickly.
“About 83 percent of registration and installation requests are completed within 24 hours. Cases where vehicles appear stuck usually occur due to errors by agent operators or incorrect document processing by car agents,” he said. Mr Turyarugayo added that the last shipment of number plates to car dealers was completed last week. Reports of shortages are not new. In June 2025, several dealers reported difficulties importing and selling vehicles due to a shortage of digital number plates.
