The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to urgently review the Electronic Penalty System (EPS) after receiving numerous complaints about its harsh enforcement and operational flaws.
Introduced to curb traffic violations an check road carnage using automated number plate recognition cameras, the EPS issues fines for offences such as speeding and running red lights.
Once flagged, vehicle owners receive tickets by email or SMS and must pay within 72 hours or face a 50 percent surcharge.
Non-payment results in restrictions, including the inability to renew driving licenses or travel abroad.
Ssenyonyi’s letter to the Minister outlines serious public concerns: “I have personally received numerous complaints pointing to the system’s relentless and, in many cases, excessive issuance of traffic fines without clear and accessible justification.”
He described the EPS as “punitive and exploitative, rather than corrective or educational,” urging that road safety be pursued “in a manner that is fair, just, and respectful of the rights and safety of Ugandans.”
Widespread confusion stems from inconsistent speed limits, especially on roads like the Northern Bypass, where limits have dropped to as low as 30km/h—an unrealistic figure, say motorists, that also raises security risks.
The bypass, known for criminal ambushes, becomes more dangerous when drivers are forced to crawl at slow speeds, exposing them to stone attacks by thugs.
Comedian Daniel Irish Kanyerezi echoed this concern, questioning how road safety can be ensured when “drivers feel unsafe due to security concerns.”
Many users report receiving multiple fines in a single day for minor infractions or unclear violations.
Gilbert Asasira recounted being hit with three tickets worth Shs1.4 million in one day, which escalated to Shs2.1 million after just three days of non-payment.
Others have raised doubts about EPS accuracy. One social media user, Denis Woniala, shared an example of a fine issued to a Toyota Spacio that featured a photo of a Nissan X-Trail, raising fears of wrongful ticketing.
Compounding frustrations are cases where motorists obey live traffic police directions that conflict with traffic light signals monitored by EPS cameras.
Eryq, a driver in Kampala, reported receiving a fine despite following a traffic officer’s orders at a red light, highlighting a critical disconnect between automated enforcement and real-time traffic management.
Another road user claimed he had been issued a ticket for an offence committed on the Entebbe Expressway yet he had not been on that road for weeks.
To make matters worse, the vehicle indicated was a Toyota Hiace, popularly known as Drones, yet his is a private VW Polo.
This flaw leaves drivers vulnerable to unjust penalties, undermining trust in the system.
In response to growing backlash, the Ministry of Works and Transport promised improvements. Senior spokesperson Allan Ssempebwa said future tickets would include clearer details of the offence and the vehicle’s speed relative to posted limits to improve transparency.
However, critics like former Presidential Assistant Duncan Abigaba argue the system misses Kampala’s true traffic challenges, calling EPS enforcement “misguided” and urging legal and political action under the hashtag #RejectEPSAutoUg.
Beyond fines, the EPS’s requirement to maintain low speeds on certain highways increases travel time and fuel consumption, further burdening motorists already coping with rising fuel prices.
Ssenyonyi’s letter calls for broad consultations with stakeholders and an urgent recalibration of the EPS framework.
“Road safety is a shared goal,” he writes, “but it ought to be pursued fairly and respectfully.”
As public dissatisfaction grows, the government faces mounting pressure to balance modern traffic enforcement with the realities and rights of Uganda’s drivers—lest a system designed to save lives ends up alienating the very people it intends to protect.