The Digital Plates Dilemma

On the morning of Wednesday, November 1st 2023 something groundbreaking at the time, happened somewhere in Uganda. Security Minister Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala posed for the cameras with a pair of Digital Number Plates to signify the official launch and rollout of the much-talked-about Intelligent Transport Monitoring System. (ITMS)

The System had been at the top of everyone’s mind as the solution to a myriad of transport-related problems and as the two smartly dressed Ministers presided over the launch, one would have been forgiven for assuming all our problems as a nation were coming to an end. In the run-up to the pompous and elaborate launch, deadlines had passed over and over and it appeared that the ITMS was going to be a nightmare to roll out. And it did turn out to be one of the toughest projects to see the light of day. With many sceptics and critics ready to rip into the system, it was clear from the onset that the system would face substantial backlash.

Several vehicles from high-profile offices including the Office of the President, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and the Uganda Police Force were fitted with the spanking new Digital Number Plates with the understanding that the rest of the nation would follow suit from February 1st 2024. It was expected that every vehicle and motorcycle owner would have to set aside a whooping UGX 714,300 to acquire the new Digital Number Plate for their machine. Replacements were set at UGX 150,000 and UGX 50,000 for vehicles and motorcycles respectively.

The project was undergoing a delayed launch yet again, for several reasons and the questionable nature in which it was being launched led many to believe it was a failed project right from the onset. Despite this, pockets of optimism existed in some circles, especially those that had worked hard to secure the US $257 million initial investment to get the project off the ground. And for those folks, the project was going to work at whatever cost.

It has widely been said that the Government will massively roll out the project in November 2024 but as the day draws closer, more questions than answers have been raised regarding the Digital Number Plates project. The Security Minister (Rtd) Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi insists that the production line of these plates has already been established and the over 2.2 Million Vehicles in Uganda will be catered for starting with motorcycles in November 2024 and other vehicles in January 2025. According to the Minister, the old number plates would eventually be phased out in two years.

By July this year, it was estimated that Uganda was grappling with vehicle-related challenges like crime, traffic accidents, number plate forgery, and a whole lot of administrative inefficiencies. The anticipation has always been that the ITLS would fix these and other problems once rolled out.

Several issues continue to stain the already delayed project and as we await its full rollout, one can’t help but think about the problems the project has faced and is still facing.

One of the fundamental challenges posed by the intended roll-out of the Digital Number Plates is the issue of Privacy. While the system is aimed at making work easier for authorities by creating more avenues for surveillance, it adds to the list of regressive laws that infringe on the right to privacy of Ugandans. In cases where Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political opponents, Human Rights Defenders (HRDSs), Gov’t critics and dissidents are calculated targets, the ITLS will give the Government all the weaponry both legal and otherwise, to surveil whoever they want to surveil whenever they want to do it. The risks of data breaches and the potential exposure to unauthorised should raise concerns for anyone keen on privacy issues.

Yes, there is an effort to try and keep the production localised by creating a local production line. However, the constant heavy reliance on foreign players for surveillance of Ugandan Citizens is an issue that will never cease to wield its ugly head. As we speak, Uganda is reliant on the services of Huawei for the supply and installation of CCTV technology across the country – something that still does not sit well with advocates of citizen privacy. Adding the ITLS to this list of worrying concerns will only fuel the rumours that the government is just interested in surveilling dissenting voices and opponents.

Section 10 of the Data Collection and Privacy Act of 2019 mentions that “A data collector, data processor or data controller shall not collect, hold or process personal data in a manner which infringes on the privacy of the subject.” One therefore asks the question – will the Government be honest enough to collect data without infringing on the privacy of Citizens?

There have been complaints from the public about the cost of the Digital Number Plates and for some reason, this has been dismissed by authorities. According to them, cost is a non-issue. The average Ugandan struggles to make ends meet, they struggle to survive in these harsh economic times. Demanding that every car owner forks out UGX 714,300 for the new number plate is demanding that the vast majority of vehicle owners take their machines off the road because the truth is not many will afford it.

As of June 26, 2024, it is estimated that 1091 vehicles from several Ministries had been equipped with the Digital Number Plates but many challenges were being met in trying to spread the project further. If just a handful of vehicles from Ministries are on board, what assurance is there that by January 2025 the rest of the country will be on board, seeing as there are millions of vehicles to deal with?

The guys from Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) were immediately vocal about their scepticism, asking authorities to hold off on the project because awareness wasn’t as widespread as was earlier said. While we expect all Ugandans to be on board by January 2025, there aren’t many people who know the workings of the project or who have embraced the project and are happy and willing to acquire the new Digital Number Plates. There is a lot of information about the project that remains shrouded in mystery that it begs the question – what is the actual truth about the project? Who is in charge? What do they hope to achieve? Do they have any ill motives? Should the average Ugandan be worried about anything?

The political in-fighting notwithstanding, one hopes that whatever innovations or projects the Government is pursuing, they are solely in the interest of the citizens and not particular individuals. There have been several instances where high-ranking individuals in the government seem hellbent on making sure the project sees the light of day, with little or no regard for safety checks and due diligence. The result of such a situation is that many people now feel like they are being hung out to dry by specific high-ranking individuals whose sole purpose is to benefit financially from the project with little or no regard for the well-being of Ugandans.

Questions have also been raised about the business model of the project with many people uncertain of what the pay-back terms look like. Many a time, partnerships and relationships are entered into on behalf of the Ugandan people and it only emerges later that the repayment terms are unfriendly. For this project, an initial investment of US$247 million is set to cover the acquisition of cameras, registration plates, speed radars, electronic devices, software and the control room. However, the investor, JSC-GS hopes to recoup about US$974 million from traffic fines, speeding violations and penalties. With such a business model in place, one can’t help but worry that from the onset the system seems designed to maximise profits which could override the Government’s goal of enhanced security.

The points advanced for the roll-out of digital plates across the country might appear quite noble. They could be anchored in the desire for the Government to take control of the security of the nation. However, with the glaring holes and well-documented inconsistencies in the business model of the ITMS, the haphazardly planned roll-out, the unkind cost implications and the endless privacy issues involved, one can’t be blamed for being sceptical about the project. Perhaps when there are more answers than questions, Ugandans will embrace the project because, after all, it seems to advance a cause that is in the interest of Ugandans – security. Until then, we shall keep asking the questions and demanding that the truth about the project be shared with all Ugandans.