By Daniel Cheleste
The Ministry of Works and Transport recently launched the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) Auto under the 2024 Traffic and Road Safety Regulations.
While the initiative aimed to enhance road safety through automated traffic law enforcement, its rollout drew widespread criticism and unrest. For many Ugandans, the scheme appeared less about public safety and more about revenue generation, imposed without sufficient consultation or preparation. After much complaining from the public, the ministry halted the system, perhaps for revision.
The new system enforced speed limits of 30km/hr near schools and hospitals, and 50km/hr on highways and urban roads. Offenders were to be automatically fined: Shs 200,000 for exceeding 30km/hr and Shs 600,000 for going above 50km/hr.
Discontent, disruption
The rollout sparked an immediate backlash, with motorists, car dealers, and transporters expressing anger over the abrupt and heavy-handed implementation. One of the most contentious issues was that fines are directed at registered vehicle owners, not necessarily the drivers committing the offence. This disproportionately affected car dealers who retain ownership of vehicles sold on hire purchase. In several instances, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) froze dealer accounts over unpaid fines, many of which were incurred by third-party drivers.
This triggered protests from vehicle importers, taxi operators, and truck drivers. Many feared being pushed out of business due to mounting penalties. Rather than achieving order on the roads, the EPS Auto scheme was seen by many as introducing chaos and financial hardship, especially for those in the transport and motor trade sectors.
The EPS Auto is part of a broader Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), being implemented by M/S Joint Stock Global Security Company, a Russian firm contracted to manage the system. The wider programme includes digital number plates, artificial intelligence-powered CCTV, vehicle tracking, and gun fingerprinting, all intended to improve national security and public safety.
However, the government reportedly failed to provide adequate funding, and the private implementer was now recovering costs directly from traffic offenders. This raises serious ethical concerns, particularly given the lack of transparency around the terms of the contract and revenue collection mechanisms.
Legal, governance concerns
A petition was filed in the High Court in Kampala seeking to halt the EPS Auto and digital number plate rollout. The petitioner argued that the agreement between the Ministry of Works and the Russian company is illegal, lacking proper gazettement and parliamentary oversight. The case cites breaches of Objective XXVI(c) of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, which calls for transparency and accountability in public resource use.
It was also alleged that the accounts receiving these fees were private and managed by foreign businessmen—an arrangement that, if true, represents a gross violation of public trust. Such legal and governance questions must be urgently addressed. Public policy should never operate in shadows or without clear lines of accountability.
Time for dialogue, reform
If the EPS Auto system is to succeed in its intended mission, improving road safety and enforcing order, major reforms are needed. First, the ministry must review and amend the regulatory framework to ensure fairness and proportionality. Hefty fines that cripple small businesses and wrongly penalise car dealers must be reconsidered.
Second, stakeholder engagement is vital. Public buy-in can only be achieved through dialogue, transparency, and inclusion, not through force or surprise enforcement. A clear public education campaign should accompany any national reform of this scale.
Third, Parliament must strengthen its oversight role. Any agreement involving foreign firms and national security infrastructure must go through proper legal channels and scrutiny. Ugandans deserve to know who is managing their data, collecting their fines, and benefiting from public systems.
Lastly, there must be wider administrative reform. Accountability mechanisms are essential for tracking government spending, avoiding politically motivated allocations, and preventing corruption. Reforms should also focus on financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) require proper targeting and monitoring to deliver real impact.
Increased investment in industrialisation and value addition is also critical. It not only supports economic growth but also reduces dependency on punitive fines as a source of state revenue.
Conclusion
The EPS Auto initiative may have been born out of good intentions, but its execution has left the public feeling sidelined and exploited. True reform must be rooted in fairness, transparency, and public interest—not private profit. The Ministry of Works and Transport must return to the drawing board, not to abandon the project, but to ensure it serves its real purpose, saving lives and enhancing road safety, without undermining livelihoods or violating public trust.
