Summary:
- Baker Batamukoraho, General Secretary of the Kisoro United Boda Boda Association, expressed concern over the high costs associated with acquiring the digital plates.
KISORO: Motorists’ leaders in Kisoro District have expressed mixed reactions to the two-year ultimatum for migrating to digital number plates under the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).
The announcement was made by Susan Kataike, the Principal Communications Officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, during a press briefing in Mbale on Sunday. The phased rollout of the program began in November 2023 with the installation of digital plates on government vehicles. To date, 2,143 government vehicles have been fitted with the new plates.
In November 2024, the initiative was extended to include the registration of new motorcycles. So far, 11,721 private and public motorcycles have been equipped with digital number plates. The third phase, starting on January 6, 2025, will require all new motor vehicles entering the country to have digital number plates installed at a cost of Shs700,000. Vehicle owners will also begin transitioning from old plates at fees of Shs50,000 for motorcycles and Shs150,000 for motor vehicles.
Baker Batamukoraho, General Secretary of the Kisoro United Boda Boda Association, expressed concern over the high costs associated with acquiring the digital plates. He criticized the move as an additional burden on motorists, citing increased prices and taxes that arise when purchasing vehicles.
CUE IN BATAMUKORAHO……ON NUMBER PLATES…..RR//
Emmanuel Mbonyebyombi, a stage master at Line Stage, dismissed the digitization initiative as flawed and unreliable, arguing that digital displays could malfunction and lead to incorrect or missing information.
Meanwhile, Shadra Nfitumukiza, a stage master at Kindly Stage A, praised the Ministry of Works and Transport for introducing the ITMS, highlighting its advanced security features that can detect traffic violations and track criminal activities involving motorists.
CUE IN STAGE MASTERS……VOXPOP…….RR//
However, the Chairperson of Kisoro Transporters Association, Nizeyimana Lawrence, downplayed concerns about the costs of digital number plates. He argued that the fees are minimal compared to the overall cost of purchasing a vehicle and urged motorists to embrace the initiative.
CUE IN NIZEYIMANA……ON MONEY……RR//
