Minister Byamukama Inspects Digital Number Plate Facility, Directs Contractor to Resolve Production Challenges by August

Kyambogo, Uganda – The Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, has conducted an on-site inspection of the digital number plate production facility at Kyambogo, following growing public concern over a persistent shortage of plates that has hampered service delivery and frustrated motorists and business owners.

During the visit, the Minister assessed the contractor’s operational capacity and directed Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSCGS) to address all outstanding production bottlenecks by the end of August this year. The directive is aimed at restoring a steady and reliable supply of digital number plates, particularly for first-time vehicle registration clients who have borne the brunt of the delays.

“The Government is committed to ensuring that the transition to digital number plates is seamless and efficient. We cannot allow production shortfalls to undermine service delivery or inconvenience Ugandans,” said Minister Byamukama. “The contractor has been given a clear deadline to resolve these challenges and must deliver on their contractual obligations.”

The inspection comes on the heels of a high-level meeting held last week between the Ministry, key stakeholders, and JSCGS, where parties deliberated on the root causes of the supply disruptions and agreed on corrective measures. While the specific nature of the production challenges was not disclosed, sources indicate they range from technical glitches to raw material supply constraints.

Stakeholders, including vehicle dealers and transport operators, have in recent weeks decried the scarcity of plates, which has led to long queues, delayed vehicle clearance, and increased operational costs for businesses reliant on timely registration.

Minister Byamukama assured the public that the Government is closely monitoring the situation and will take further action if the contractor fails to meet the August deadline. He emphasized that the digital number plate system remains a key security and revenue initiative, and its success depends on uninterrupted production and distribution.

The Uganda Digital Number Plate Project, launched in phases, is designed to enhance road safety, curb vehicle-related crime, and improve revenue collection through automated traffic management systems. However, the current production setbacks have cast a shadow over its rollout.

The Ministry has urged motorists and businesses to remain patient as efforts intensify to normalize supply, with the contractor now under firm orders to scale up operations and eliminate all backlogs within the next two months.