Uganda’s digital number plate system has helped security agencies recover 90 percent of motor vehicles reported stolen or involved in crime, officials have told Parliament, highlighting the growing role of the technology in the fight against vehicle-related crime.
The revelation was made before the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure, which is scrutinising the operations, effectiveness and implementation of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).
Security Minister Gen Jim Muhwezi, who appeared before the committee alongside officials from the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Works and Transport, told MPs that the tracking system is operational across the country.
According to Felix Baryamwisaki, the Uganda Police Director of ICT, police had recorded the recovery of 337 out of 375 stolen motor vehicles, translating into a recovery rate of about 90 percent.
Baryamwisaki told MPs that the system’s tracking capability extends beyond Uganda’s borders.
Muhwezi cited the recovery of a stolen Police vehicle that was tracked to Kenya, saying the digital number plate system enabled security agencies to locate and recover it.
However, the same success has not been replicated with motorcycles.
Police told MPs that only 174 out of 782 motorcycles fitted with digital number plates had been recovered, giving a recovery rate of approximately 22 percent. Officials attributed the lower recovery rate to challenges surrounding motorcycle tracking and said efforts were underway to address the gap.
The latest figures come amid growing scrutiny of Uganda’s multi-billion-shilling digital registration and tracking programme, which was introduced as part of government efforts to modernise vehicle registration, strengthen road safety and combat motor vehicle crime.
From government vehicles to nationwide rollout
Uganda launched the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) in November 2023, initially beginning with digital number plates for government vehicles.
The second phase began in November 2024 with the rollout of digital plates for motorcycles and tricycles. The third phase, covering private and public motor vehicles, commenced in January 2025.
The system was developed to combine digital vehicle identification with tracking technology, allowing security agencies to monitor and trace vehicles when necessary.
The rollout, however, was accompanied by controversy over the cost of the plates, privacy concerns and delays in implementation.
The government initially set the cost for newly registered private vehicles at about Shs713,000, while motorists replacing conventional plates were expected to pay a lower fee, with separate charges applying to motorcycles.
The cost has remained a major point of contention, with MPs recently questioning why vehicle owners and boda boda riders should face charges running into hundreds of thousands of shillings.
Parliament questions effectiveness and cost
During the latest committee hearing, MPs questioned whether the technology was delivering the security benefits promised when the project was introduced.
The committee has since resolved to visit the ITMS monitoring centre to see firsthand how the system tracks vehicles, processes information and supports police operations.
The inspection is expected to give MPs an opportunity to test the system’s tracking capabilities rather than relying solely on reports from implementing agencies.
The parliamentary scrutiny comes after a period of operational difficulties, including delays in issuing digital plates.
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the average waiting time for digital plate fitting at Kampala vehicle bonds fell from 19 days in December 2025 to two days in September 2026. At major border points such as Malaba and Mutukula, officials said vehicles can now be fitted with the plates within hours.
Digital tracking already catching motorcycle thieves
Despite the lower overall motorcycle recovery rate reported to Parliament, police have also recorded cases where digital tracking has helped dismantle motorcycle theft networks.
In one Kampala operation reported in September, police used digital tracing to track a stolen motorcycle from Nabweru to Busabala, leading to arrests and the recovery of other motorcycles allegedly stolen by a wider network. Police subsequently recovered 12 stolen motorcycles in the operation.
Police have nevertheless warned that criminals are adapting, with some allegedly dismantling stolen motorcycles for spare parts or altering their appearance in an attempt to evade detection.
The latest parliamentary figures therefore present a mixed picture: digital number plates appear to have significantly strengthened the tracking and recovery of stolen cars, but their effectiveness in recovering motorcycles remains substantially lower.
For the government, the challenge now is to demonstrate that the technology can deliver comparable results across all categories of vehicles while addressing concerns over cost, implementation and access.
The committee is expected to continue examining the technical, financial and contractual aspects of the ITMS as it assesses whether the system is delivering the security and transport-management benefits promised to Ugandans.
