KAMPALA, Uganda— The Ugandan government will next month begin enforcing an Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) through an Integrated Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), officials announced Monday, warning motorists there will be “no one to call, no one to bribe and no shortcuts” for traffic violations.
State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama confirmed the impending enforcement, stating the ITMS is fully operational. The system utilizes artificial intelligence-powered CCTV cameras, digital number plates, and other advanced technologies to detect traffic offenses, manage traffic flow, and support national security.
“If you violate traffic rules, your connections will no longer help you. You must follow the law or pay the price,” Byamukama said.
Under the new scheme, penalties include 200,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately $55 USD) for exceeding the speed limit by 1-30 kilometers per hour and 600,000 shillings (approximately $165 USD) for speeds over 30 kilometers per hour. Careless driving will incur a 100,000 shilling fine (approximately $27 USD), while driving with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit will cost 200,000 shillings.
Motorists with outstanding fines will be barred from renewing their driver’s licenses, and foreign drivers will be prevented from leaving the country until penalties are paid.
The ITMS is a joint initiative between the Ugandan government and a Russian company, Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSGC). The rollout follows the gazetting of the Traffic and Road Safety (Express Penalty Scheme for Road Traffic Offenders) Regulations, which formalizes the EPS auto-system.
JSGC spokesperson Allan Kwitonda confirmed the EPSauto system has been introduced, with ITMS currently in the process of full automation. He added that training for police officers, as well as motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) and taxi drivers, is underway this week and next for sensitization purposes.
Initially, the system will focus on two violations: speeding and running red lights, to test its functionality. “Other violations will be monitored as well but not charged yet,” Kwitonda said.
Allan Ssempebwa, communications officer for the Ministry of Works and Transport, emphasized that the system will apply to all vehicles, regardless of whether they have digital number plates. “The camera system is able to detect both digital and non-digital plates,” he said, adding that the centralized system at police headquarters can track movements and violations captured by the cameras.
Ssempebwa explained that the EPS is linked to the Uganda Driver Licensing System (UDLS) and the immigration system for foreign drivers. “The chief licensing officer shall not renew or grant an extension of a driving licence if an applicant has not paid a fixed penalty issued under these regulations. A foreign driver shall not be allowed to leave Uganda via any of the country’s exit ports if he or she has not paid a fixed penalty issued under these regulations,” he stated.
He noted that motorists generally know when they are violating traffic laws. “If you went to driving school, you actually know that at the red light, you should stop. Should you drive on before it turns green, that’s a penalty and it will be sent to you on your phone.”
According to the Traffic and Road Safety (Express Penalty Scheme for Road Traffic Offenders) Regulations, 2024, penalties are due immediately. Payment must be made at designated Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) collection banks upon presentation of a payment advice issued by a police officer or traffic warden. Failure to pay within 72 hours will result in a 50% surcharge.
Ssempebwa said the automated system aims to reduce roadside stops and concerns about selective enforcement and bribery. “Everybody, including government vehicles shall be affected by the EPS-auto system except those vehicles with the right of way,” he said.
He appealed to road users to comply with traffic rules, highlighting that speeding is a major cause of road crashes in Uganda, consistent with global statistics. “We cannot as a country sit and watch as people lose their lives and not take action,” Ssempebwa said, adding that a multi-layered approach to road safety interventions will be continuously rolled out.
Solomon Nsimire, chairman of the Uganda Bus Owners Association (UBOA), welcomed the initiative, saying it would instill discipline among drivers. He stated that bus owners have been sensitizing their drivers to follow traffic regulations.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Lawrence Niwabiine, head of the traffic directorate, reported in February that road crash fatalities are increasing in Uganda, with 5,144 deaths recorded in 2024, or 14 deaths daily, up from 4,806 in 2023. The highest number of crashes and fatalities occur between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Police statistics indicate a steady rise in road deaths, from 4,534 in 2022 to the current figures, underscoring the urgency of the new enforcement measures.
