Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has questioned the value of Uganda’s Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) digital number plates project, arguing that the country should have considered local manufacturer Wavamunno instead of importing the plates.
Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure, which is scrutinising the project, Otafiire said the initiative had added little value to Uganda.
“When I was still Minister of Internal Affairs, this digital number plates thing was useless. There was no value added,” he said.
Otafiire also questioned why the government opted to import the plates instead of supporting local production.
“Why did we abandon Wavamunno to go and import number plates when they could be made here?” he asked.
The project has faced scrutiny over its cost, implementation delays and procurement arrangements involving Russian firm JSC Global Security.
Questions have also emerged over the 2021 contract, which was approved by then Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, while his law firm, K&K Advocates, later represented the Russian company. The arrangement has prompted questions about a potential conflict of interest.
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Parliament’s ongoing inquiry is expected to examine the project’s implementation, its value to Uganda and whether importing the digital number plates was justified.
“When I was still Minister of internal affairs, this Digital number Plates thing (@itmsug) was useless.”~Maj.Gen Otafiire
“There was No value added”
“Why did we abandon Wavamunno to go and import Number Plates when they could be made here?” https://t.co/Q5nLW4GUaW
— Samwise Gamgee (@Sambannz) October 13, 2026
