Pressure is rising against Uganda’s new Electronic Penalty System as MPs and the public decry steep fines, inadequate signage, and concerns over a private company profiting from penalties.
The government has responded by initiating a review, though cancellation is off the table.
Pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Works and Transport over Uganda’s newly enforced Electronic Penalty System (EPS), with Members of Parliament raising alarm over its harsh penalties, alleged illegality, and the lack of public sensitization.
The system, which came into effect on May 20, 2025, has triggered a wave of public complaints, prompting a government review—although a senior ministry official has said outright cancellation is not on the table.
On the day the system was enforced, Buhweju County MP and Shadow Minister for Works and Transport, Francis Mwijukye, raised a matter of urgent national importance on the floor of Parliament.
He described the new traffic fines as unfair, warning that the majority of revenue from the penalties—up to 85 percent—is being channeled to a Russian private company, MS – Global Security, in violation of Uganda’s legal framework.
“The new traffic regulations require motorists to pay traffic fines of UGX 200,000 and UGX 600,000 for exceeding the prescribed speed limit by 1 to 30kmh and over 30kmh respectively, within 72 hours after the issuance of the express penalty scheme (EPS) tickets,” Mwijukye said.
He added, “This is not only unfair to citizens, as there are no signposts erected to indicate the new speed limits in various areas, but it is also crucial for the House to note that 85 percent of the fines collected are channeled to a private company, MS – Global Security, which is contrary to Section 21(b) of the Uganda Road Fund Act, 2008, as amended.
This Act mandates that fines under the Traffic and Road Safety Act be allocated to the road fund rather than to private individuals.”
Mwijukye further warned that drivers are being unfairly penalized when traffic officers manually direct vehicles even at red lights, a situation the automated EPS cameras do not consider.
“Traffic officers are still directing the flow of traffic even at red lights, which the auto EPS system installed at various locations cannot account for. This will result in broad daylight theft of Ugandans,” he said.
In light of these concerns, Mwijukye urged the government to immediately halt the new fines until proper signage is installed, stop traffic police from directing vehicles against traffic lights, and ensure all fines are routed to the Uganda Road Fund.
Weeks later, on June 10, the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, formally appealed to the Ministry of Works and Transport to reconsider the EPS, citing widespread public dissatisfaction and describing the system as exploitative rather than corrective.
“While the intention behind the EPS may have been to promote road safety and order, its current execution has raised widespread alarm among motorists and other road users,” Ssenyonyi wrote in a letter to the Minister.
He criticized the rollout for lacking public awareness campaigns.
“There was inadequate public sensitization prior to the rollout. Many motorists are not well informed on how the system works, how to verify penalties, or how to contest wrongful fines,” he stated.
Ssenyonyi also condemned inconsistent and unmarked speed limits, particularly on the Kampala Northern Bypass. “Certain areas are enforcing low-speed limits without signage or logical justification, creating confusion and inadvertent violations,” he said.
He warned that such low speeds in isolated areas put motorists at risk of criminal attacks.
“The slow speeds required by the EPS in high-risk areas like the bypass expose motorists to ambushes, including attacks by criminals wielding stones. This poses a significant personal safety concern.”
The Opposition Leader added that some drivers have been unfairly denied license renewals or travel opportunities over pending fines, with no fair appeal process in place. “Such restrictions appear overly harsh, especially where appeals or verifications have not been processed,” he wrote.
He echoed Mwijukye’s concern about contradictions between traffic lights and traffic police, saying, “During rush hour, traffic police tend to control the flow of traffic.
In those cases, motorists have to ignore traffic lights and follow the direction of traffic police, which exposes them to the risk of automatic penalties.”
Although Parliament is in recess, Ssenyonyi’s letter requested an urgent review and recalibration of the EPS framework to address public concerns.
“Please consider this letter a formal appeal for an urgent review and recalibration of the EPS framework to address these critical concerns,” he wrote.
As public discontent grows, a senior official at the Ministry of Works and Transport, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this reporter that the government has begun reviewing the EPS system “with a view of revising certain aspects.”
However, the official stressed that scrapping the system is not an option.
The nature of the review remains unclear, but ministry officials are holding a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders today to discuss possible adjustments.
Details of the discussion have not been made public, but civil society groups, transport unions, and legal experts are reportedly pushing for a transparent and inclusive reform process.