Number plate shortage bites car dealers, contractor blames 'other stakeholders'
"This increases the cost in terms of warehousing and repairs since the imported vehicles remain parked awaiting number plates," says Kamunvi.
Production of the digital number plates at the ITMS warehouse at Kawempe, Kampala city. (Photos by Julius Luwemba)
By Julius Luwemba
Journalists @New Vision
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Car dealers in Uganda have decried what they are calling a number plate shortage, which they say is affecting their business and raising their cost of operation.
"This increases the cost in terms of warehousing and repairs since the imported vehicles remain parked awaiting number plates," associated motor vehicle dealers chairperson Charles Kamunvi says, adding that the production of number plates has stalled over unknown reasons.
Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSCGS) is the company contracted by the government of Uganda to produce digitised number plates. The company was also charged with the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), a programme designed to address and monitor motor vehicle and cycle movements while on the road.
According to Kamunvi, there are about 200 motor vehicles that remain parked in different car bonds, yet to get the digital number plates.
Meanwhile, Azat Akmyradov, the JSCGS commercial and government relations manager clarified on July 29, 2025, that the delay in number plate production was because of "other stakeholders in the chain."
He noted that the facility currently produces 2,500 number plate kits per day, with a capacity to increase up to 8,000 number plates in a single day.
"At the moment we're working on the backlog and can assure that in one week, we shall have cleared all the backlogs and available demands," Akmyradov said.
He further intimated that the system is already incorporated with the Uganda Police Force to help in its operations.
L-R; Azat Akmyradov the JSCGS commercial and government relations manager, Mubarak Kirunda the director of business development under the Uganda Manufacturers Association and Sylvia Zalwango his secretaryL-R; Azat Akmyradov the JSCGS commercial and government relations manager, Mubarak Kirunda the director of business development under the Uganda Manufacturers Association and Sylvia Zalwango his secretary.
"This system is embedded with advanced features like beacons, QR codes, and holograms for tamper-proof authenticity and integration with Uganda Police systems," Akmyradov added.
Electronic Penalty System
Ruth Alowo, the quality control supervisor under JSCGS, also explained that the Kampala city suburb of Kawempe-based facility has so far produced 95,000 number plates.
Regarding the suspension of the Electronic Penalty System (EPS), company management stated that this was a government decision, which has not in any way affected the production of license plates or other operations.
"We continue recording and disseminating data to the relevant authorities," Alowo stated.
ITMS production manager Austin Egesa pointed out other enhanced features within the system, which he said will enable accurate data-sharing with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). While halting the express traffic fine system last month, some of the concerns raised included lack of a memorandum of understanding between the Russian company and other stakeholders, such as URA for proper data management.
Upon its rollout in June this year, it was reported that the ITMS system was integrated with Police's secure data centres at Naguru and Nateete.
Acquiring a new license plate costs shillings 714,300, whereas replacement of a lost plate costs shillings 150,000 for motor vehicles and 50,000 for motorcycles.
Mubarak Kirunda, the director of business development under the Uganda Manufacturers Association, appealed for widening of the tracking technology to the manufacturers and traders, to enable them to track the progress and transit of their goods and merchandise.
Meanwhile, he commended the current integrated ITMS system which he said, ably addresses the shortage of license plates.
"With the current production rate, we remain optimistic that this is no longer a challenge," he expressed.