Museveni, MPs discuss digital number plates project
For the past month, the committee has been investigating the implementation of the 10-year agreement between the Government of Uganda and Russian technology firm Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSCGS).
President Yoweri Museveni (pictured). Kakande, dismissed media reports suggesting that the President had admitted being misled into procuring a dysfunctional system. (File photo)
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President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned Members of Parliament against issuing misleading or premature reports on the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), describing the digital number plates initiative as a critical national security investment whose primary purpose is to support crime prevention and vehicle tracking.
The President's position was communicated following a six-hour Wednesday (October 28) meeting at State House, Entebbe, with MPs on Parliament’s committee on physical infrastructure.
For the past month, the committee has been investigating the implementation of the 10-year agreement between the Government of Uganda and Russian technology firm Joint Stock Company Global Security (JSCGS).
Speaking after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, dismissed media reports suggesting that the President had admitted being misled into procuring a dysfunctional system.
"The President never made such a statement; it was not there," Kakande said, clarifying that the President had not described the system as non-functional or ineffective.
He noted that although financial arrangements, economic considerations and revenue-sharing mechanisms remain important areas requiring further discussion, they should be considered alongside the project's primary security mandate.
Kakande said the President acknowledged Parliament's constitutional oversight responsibilities but cautioned legislators against publishing findings before all relevant technical and contractual issues had been properly examined.
According to Kakande, the President has instead called for constructive engagement between Parliament, government and the Russian contractor as discussions on ITMS cost, technical upgrades and local manufacturing continue.
The President, Kakande added, encouraged a collaborative approach involving Parliament, government technical experts and the project contractor to address outstanding concerns.
"The President advised them that if the project is for security, they should not just come out with reports which are not correct. Let them sit with us, and we talk, negotiate, and agree with them," Kakande said.
The meeting followed a month-long parliamentary inquiry into the implementation of ITMS, during which the Committee on Physical Infrastructure examined the project's contractual arrangements, software valuation, system performance, data security and operational challenges.
Kakande further indicated that discussions at State House acknowledged the operational functionality of the technology, with attention shifting towards further software improvements, technical optimisation and the development of local manufacturing capacity.
The discussions, he added, also highlighted the government's intention to establish domestic production facilities for digital number plates as part of efforts to strengthen local participation in the project and build national technical capacity.
To address issues arising from the parliamentary inquiry, Kakande said, Museveni directed the formation of a tripartite consultative arrangement bringing together representatives of the technology provider, government technical teams and Members of Parliament.
The proposed engagement is expected to provide a platform for examining outstanding questions surrounding the project's financial structure, technical specifications, software development, system optimisation and the future of local manufacturing.
The arrangement will also allow the parties to engage directly on concerns raised during the parliamentary investigation, to establish a common understanding of the project's implementation and address areas requiring improvement.
The committee chaired by Mbarara City South MP, Mwine Mpaka, is expected to table its officials report next week.