Business 29 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Digital Number Plate Delays Strand Ugandan Car Buyers and Dealers
Thousands of vehicle buyers in Uganda are unable to take delivery of their cleared and paid-for cars due to prolonged delays in issuing mandatory digital number plates. Dealers report backlogs of up to 10 days, higher costs, and mounting frustrations amid capacity and logistical hurdles. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/auto/how-digital-plate-delays-are-leaving-buyers-stranded-5441248
In car bonds across Kampala, imported vehicles remain idle despite completed customs clearance, full payments, and submitted paperwork. The hold-up stems from bottlenecks in the rollout of Uganda’s digital number plate system, introduced in January 2025 to modernize transport with QR codes and RFID chips for tracking and security.
Dealers like Joseph Onen describe the frustration: customers wait 7-10 days or longer for plates, locking up capital and eroding trust. Some buyers suspect foul play, threatening legal action or police involvement. The new plates cost around Shs714,000, far exceeding prior fees, and whispers of informal payments add to tensions.
The Delight Car Dealers Association is mobilizing for government talks, warning of threats to businesses and the import market. Industry figures like Al Malik propose local production to cut delays, boost jobs, and enhance efficiency.
Transport Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala acknowledges the issues, blaming high demand, production limits, contractor setbacks, and Intelligent Transport Management System complexities. Officials promise capacity expansions for faster issuance, stressing the system’s role in crime prevention and vehicle tracking.
These delays ripple through taxation, banking, insurance, and logistics, potentially distorting Uganda’s growing vehicle imports from Japan, Germany, and the UK.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)