The government has begun fresh consultations with transport sector stakeholders ahead of the planned relaunch of Express Penalty System (EPS) and the Fine Issuance System (FIS), following public concerns that led to the earlier suspension of the automated traffic enforcement programme.
Officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport said the consultations, scheduled to begin across the country in mid-March 2026, are intended to address concerns raised by motorists, public transport operators and other road users before the system is reinstated.
Works and Transport Minister Katumba Wamala on Wednesday met leaders representing taxi operators, bus companies, truck drivers and boda boda riders to review a draft report assessing the initial rollout of the system.
According to the ministry, the review identified several operational gaps that contributed to public dissatisfaction when the automated enforcement system was first implemented.
Among the issues raised were insufficient road signage, limited public sensitisation before the rollout, and concerns about the 72-hour deadline given to motorists to clear fines before a 50% surcharge is applied.
Transport operators also sought clarification on the enforcement of the 30 kilometres-per-hour speed limit in designated safety zones such as school areas and markets.
Some stakeholders questioned discrepancies between certain speed camera readings and the officially designated road speed limits.
Motorists also raised concerns about the issuance of multiple receipts during the early stages of the system’s rollout.
Officials said some of these problems had already been corrected before the programme was suspended, while others have since been addressed during the ongoing review process.
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What happened?
The Express Penalty System (EPS) and Fine Issuance System (FIS) were first rolled out in May 2025 as part of the government’s effort to modernise traffic enforcement and reduce road crashes using automated surveillance.
Under the system, speed cameras installed on major highways and urban roads automatically detected traffic violations such as speeding, running red lights and dangerous driving, and generated electronic fines sent to vehicle owners through the digital platform.
The system enforced existing traffic speed limits, including 50 kilometres per hour in urban areas, 80 kilometres per hour on highways and 30 kilometres per hour in designated safety zones such as school areas, markets and hospital zones.
However, shortly after its launch, the programme sparked widespread public outcry from motorists and transport operators who cited inadequate public sensitisation, unclear road signage, questions about the accuracy of some speed cameras and concerns about the 72-hour deadline for paying fines before a 50 percent surcharge was applied.
The backlash prompted the government to suspend the system later in 2025 and initiate a review to address the operational challenges raised by road users.
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The ministry also acknowledged complaints about the absence of an automated mechanism for lodging complaints against fines.
Officials said a new digital platform is being developed to allow motorists to challenge penalties electronically without the need for physical interaction with enforcement officials.
“We need to limit human interaction with the system and move towards full automation,” the ministry said in a statement summarizing the findings of the review.
Government officials said more than 90 percent of the issues raised by the public during the initial rollout were legitimate concerns, many of which have already been rectified in the revised framework for the system.
The upcoming consultations will involve transport associations, local leaders, motorists and other stakeholders across the country.
Issues requiring policy adjustments will be forwarded to Cabinet and Parliament for consideration before the system is reinstated.
The Ministry of Works and Transport stressed that the EPS and FIS will not be relaunched until there is broad consensus with the public and key transport industry players.
Authorities say the automated traffic enforcement system is intended to improve road safety by detecting speeding and other traffic violations using surveillance cameras and issuing electronic fines.
Officials also defended the broader objective of the system, urging citizens to support efforts aimed at reducing road crashes.
“We can compromise on convenience, but we cannot compromise on safety and security,” the ministry said.
Uganda records thousands of road crash fatalities annually, with speeding, reckless driving and poor road discipline cited among the leading causes of accidents, according to traffic police data.