The government has finally received a shipment of 80,000 license plates from GM Tumpeco and ABC Limited after a two-week shortage that left traders and car dealers in limbo.
GM Tumpeco and ABC Limited have been delivering number plates for over two decades. The recent delay was linked to government timelines for digital plates,but supply has resumed.
Elvis Ssekyanzi Wavamunno, President of GM Tumpeco, attributed the shortage to uncertainty surrounding their contract as the government plans to phase out the current number plates in favor of digital “Endigito” plates.
He also attributed the recent shortage of number plates to delays in the introduction of new digital plates. This initiative, intended to modernize the registration process, unintentionally caused significant disruption to the existing supply chain.
Addressing media on Monday, Ssekyanzi showcased a newly received shipment of number plates, signaling that supply has fully resumed. He spoke to the company’s continued commitment to supplying number plates, as they have done for 24 years.
He explained that while they have managed to deliver the old number plates, they are working on producing smaller ones to alleviate the current situation.
“We wish to clarify that the supply of number plates has already resumed. Over the past 24 years, GM Tumpeco and ABC Limited have continuously delivered without shortages. We remain steadfast in our commitment to serving our clients with reliability and consistency,” He said
He emphasized the importance of clear communication, urging the government to notify suppliers in advance if old number plates are still required during the transition to digital ones. This would allow suppliers to plan accordingly and prevent further disruptions.
Ssekyanzi stated that the transition period required to implement the new plates was longer than expected, causing a temporary halt in the production and distribution of traditional number plates, which GM Tumpeco and ABC Number plates had no control over.
“The repeated postponement of the launch of digital number plates created uncertainty within the supply chain. With the government extending the launch date multiple times, we received temporary permission to continue production. However, this short-term arrangement did not provide adequate time to replenish stocks.” he explained
According to the government’s plan, motorcycles are required to have digital number plates by October, while cars have until December. Defense Minister Jim Muhwezi assured President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that preparations are progressing, and everything should be ready by the end of the year.
The two-week delay in license plate availability has led to widespread job disruptions and financial losses. As a result, the government has been urged to streamline the rollout of digital number plates to avoid similar shortages in the future.
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