Faced with 14 road deaths a day, Works and Transport Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala is banking on technology to restore discipline on Uganda’s roads.
He has announced the rollout of EPS Auto, a digital Express Penalty Scheme that will use CCTV cameras and the Motor Vehicle Registry to automatically identify traffic violators and send them fines via mobile phone.
“This system will instill discipline and fill gaps where traffic police are stretched thin,” Katumba said, calling the move a major leap in enforcement strategy.
The EPS Auto initiative, introduced in response to rising fatalities—three of them schoolchildren daily, according to the 2023/2024 police report—is designed to detect violations such as speeding, reckless driving, and running red lights. Offenders will be issued electronic tickets without the need for an officer on site.
Katumba also announced a return to mandatory vehicle inspections to address the growing number of unroadworthy vehicles.
“Vehicles in dangerous mechanical condition will not be tolerated,” he warned.
The inspections will be used to flag and ground unsafe vehicles, reducing accidents caused by mechanical failure.
The Minister said the twin approach—automated enforcement and stricter vehicle oversight—was part of a larger framework to professionalise Uganda’s transport system in line with the country’s Vision 2040 and National Development Plans.
“Better roads, stricter enforcement, and safer vehicles are the pillars of a modern transport system,” he said, underscoring the government’s resolve to reverse the grim statistics.
While EPS Auto is expected to trigger unease over penalties and inspection costs, Katumba pledged that the rollout would be accompanied by robust public education.
“We’re not just penalising drivers; we’re saving lives,” he stressed. “We need a cultural shift on our roads, and that starts with accountability.”
EPS Auto marks a significant step in Uganda’s shift from manual policing to a technology-driven road safety model.
With the minister’s firm backing, the government hopes the system will rein in the chaos on roads and foster a culture of compliance and safety.