President Yoweri Museveni has called for the swift implementation of electronic number plates, asserting their importance in combating crime.
Speaking at the Kabalye Police Training School in Masindi District during a pass-out ceremony for over 2,700 law enforcement officers, Museveni emphasized the plates’ potential in aiding investigations, particularly in addressing terrorism threats. He expressed determination to eliminate terrorists operating from neighboring Congo.
“Please, I want my number plates. Don’t delay my number plates. I don’t want these aimless number plates. I want intelligent number plates for the vehicles.You will see these terrorists who have been killing people from Congo. We are going to finish them. I have told them; we’re going to kill all of them. We have everything needed” he said
The digital number plate initiative, launched this month, began with a focus on government-owned vehicles. The government entered into a decade-long agreement with a Russian company to install digital tracking chips on all registered vehicle plates under the Intelligent Transport Management Systems program. As debates over privacy concerns persist, the government remains steadfast in its commitment to the project.
However, concerns have been raised by Human Rights Watch, urging Uganda to halt the rollout of digital number plates. The global organization argues that, besides the use of surveillance cameras to target political opponents, the digital plates could be misused for similar purposes.