Uganda Aims to Produce One Million Digital Number Plates in 2026 Ahead of Compliance Deadline
Uganda is accelerating the rollout of digital vehicle number plates, with authorities announcing plans to produce up to one million digital plates in 2026 as the nationwide transition gains momentum and the compliance deadline approaches.
The initiative is part of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS)—a government-led programme to replace traditional metal plates with technologically advanced digital plates designed to enhance security, crime prevention, and transport management across the country. Motorists have been given until January 2027 to complete the transition to digital number plates.
At an event in Kampala on December 19, 2025, officials from ITMS and Spiro Uganda celebrated the issuance of the 200,026th digital number plate to a motorcycle rider. This milestone comes as Uganda’s official manufacturer and partners work to scale up production and installation services ahead of next year’s target.
ITMS Head of Installations, Joseph Tumwine, said the programme has already delivered nearly 300,000 digital plates this year for first-time vehicle registrations, and that production capacity will be significantly enhanced in 2026. “We have already achieved 83 percent of installations on the planned day and we are committed to improving this performance,” Tumwine stated.
The expansion is supported by a new manufacturing facility in Kyambogo, which currently employs about 300 Ugandans and can produce up to 2,500 plates per shift—a key factor in meeting next year’s ambitious production target.
At the event, Spiro Uganda Country Head Bruce Mucunguzi emphasised collaboration among stakeholders, noting that installation processes have been streamlined to minimize downtime for motorists and that most registration issues are now resolved in less than 24 hours.
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, phase three of the rollout—launched in January 2025—requires all new vehicles entering Uganda to be fitted with digital number plates at the point of registration, which currently cost Shs 700,000 per vehicle.
Beyond registration, the ITMS framework incorporates advanced transport monitoring, data analytics, and enforcement tools that support traffic management and assist law enforcement agencies, including the Uganda Police Force, in tracking and recovering stolen vehicles and motorcycles.
As 2026 approaches, authorities say the stepped-up production and nationwide installation push is critical to achieving full compliance by the set deadline and reinforcing road safety, security, and efficiency within Uganda’s transport sector.
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