Museveni condemns new traffic penalties

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President Yoweri Museveni has described as "rubbish", the Fine Issuance System (FIS), an automated version of the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) enforced recently against motorists exceeding speed limits largely in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

The enforcement by the Uganda Police Force has triggered a wave of public outcry forcing the Government to suspend FIS enforcement on Wednesday, June 11.

"The digital number plates are not about money or fines. They are about security. Money, fines, rubbish," said President Yoweri Museveni while addressing Parliament at the reading of the national budget 2025/26.

The events took place at Kololo independence grounds in Kampala. 

The FIS was effected after a directive from the Office of the President in May instructing the Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, to immediately implement the digital penalty issuance system.

According to the Government, this system focuses primarily on speeding and red-light violators as monitored by the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), a project involving digital number plates implemented by the Joint Stock Company–Global Security (JSCGS), a Russian firm.

In a public announcement on Wednesday stated that, "effective midnight tonight, the implementation of automated Express Penalty System [EPS Auto] will be temporarily suspended following a comprehensive review.

In the meantime, we urge all road users to continue driving responsibly and observing traffic rules," reads a statement released on social site X.