KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s new automated traffic fine system, the Express Penalty Scheme Automated (EPSAuto), is now fully operational, utilizing advanced technology to enforce traffic laws and enhance road safety. The system, which went live Friday, aims to ensure immediate accountability for motorists.
Officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport confirmed that EPSAuto automatically detects violations, recording the precise location of incidents and instantly issuing fines to vehicle owners’ registered phone numbers.
How EPSAuto Works
The EPSAuto system operates through cameras and sensors strategically placed at key points, including major junctions and highways. These devices detect various traffic offenses suchations as speeding, running red lights, and improper lane usage. When an infraction occurs, the system captures an image or records a video of the violating vehicle, meticulously extracting details, including the number plate.
The system then reviews the captured data to confirm the offense, precisely determining elements like vehicle speed or whether a traffic light was disregarded. Crucially, after automated detection, the data is verified by a traffic police officer before a fine ticket is officially issued. Once confirmed, a fine is dispatched to the vehicle owner based on the registered details of the number plate, with photographic or video proof attached.
Officials noted that while the system mostly operates in automatic mode, a short list of functions still requires human oversight. These roles are primarily for instances where the system cannot fully recognize a number plate — occurring in less than 0.1% of cases — or when there is an absence of information about the vehicle or its owner.
Payment and Penalties
Vehicle owners who receive a fine through the EPSAuto system have a period of 28 days to pay. Payments can be made using the provided Payment Registration Number (PRN) through various channels, including banks, bank agents, Payway, or mobile money services. A surcharge of 50% is applied if the fine is not settled within the 28-day grace period. Vehicle owners also retain the right to appeal the ticket if they believe an error has occurred.
Initial Enforcement and Purpose
Initially, the EPSAuto system’s enforcement will primarily focus on motorists and riders who abuse red lights at traffic junctions and those violating speed limits. Allan Ssempebwa, Senior Communications Officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, emphasized that other violations will continue to be enforced by traffic officers as before.
The system applies to all vehicles, except those on emergency duty, and is designed to foster responsible driving habits. This initiative complements recent government efforts, including the reduction of speed limits to 30 kilometers per hour in high-risk areas like schools and markets, signaling a broader commitment to saving lives on Uganda’s roads.
