In a bold yet controversial move to modernize its transportation system, Uganda introduced digital license plates as part of a sweeping technological transformation. While the government frames this initiative as a step toward improved road safety and crime prevention, the rollout has sparked significant and fierce public debate. Beneath the veneer of progress and modernization, the initiative exposes a darker reality: the creation of a 24/7 surveillance grid with worrying implications for privacy and civil liberties.
The new system, known as the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), is managed by Russian contractor, Joint Stock Global Security Company (JSGSC), which has no noticeable online presence. The system will transmit real-time location data, routes, and movement patterns of every vehicle fitted with the plates. This system intersects with Huawei’s “smart city” CCTV networks, which already blanket urban areas like Kampala. Together, they form an all-seeing infrastructure capable of tracking citizens’ movements, associations, and activities with alarming precision.
The digital number plates mark a significant shift from traditional alphanumeric license plates, transforming them into sophisticated tracking tools. Embedded with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) chips and QR codes, these plates are not mere vehicle identifiers, they enable continuous monitoring of vehicle movements and ownership details. The plates allow authorities to track individuals in real time.
Critics argue this mirrors tactics used by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent. For example, Russia’s own surveillance apparatus has been weaponized against activists and journalists. Russia has long exported surveillance technology to African nations as part of its soft power strategy, offering tools that empower autocrats while deepening dependency.
Uganda’s partnership with Global Security is part of a broader trend of international collaborations in technology and infrastructure. In 2022, the government signed a deal with Russian state-owned Rostec to develop a $4 billion refinery. As with past agreements, questions have been raised about data security and privacy. Ensuring clear safeguards and transparency in managing vehicle tracking data will be essential to addressing public concerns.
The rollout of these plates raises urgent questions about transparency, governance, and accountability. For instance, who has access to this data? How long will it be stored? What safeguards exist to prevent misuse? And with a foreign contractor like Global Security involved, what guarantees do Ugandans have that their data will not be misappropriated or weaponized against them? As Richard Ngamita, our Research Lead, highlighted in his Bluesky thread, the lack of transparency around data storage and access is alarming: “Who audits Global Security? What stops this data from being sold to third parties or used to target opposition figures?”
Anatomy of a Surveillance State
Uganda’s surveillance playbook is not new. Over the past decade, the government has mandated SIM card registration (2013) to link phone numbers to national IDs. The government also imposed a social media tax in 2018, ostensibly to widen the tax base but it was called out for its use in curbing online dissent. In 2020, the government also deployed Huawei’s facial recognition cameras to fight crime but this system was often used to monitor protests. It was alleged that the government used Cellebrite’s UFED technology to hack into the smartphones of activists and political opponents in 2022. Also, FinFisher spyware was covertly deployed in 2012 to intercept the communications of journalists, activists, and political opponents.
Each of these measures was justified as a tool for “security” or as a tool to push the country forward but then was quickly repurposed for political control. During the 2021 elections, opposition leader, Bobi Wine’s supporters were tracked via their phones and social media, leading to wide arrests and violence.
Although these new digital plates are touted as a way to modernize Uganda’s transportation infrastructure by enhancing road safety, improving traffic management, and reducing crime like car theft, critics view the initiative as mass surveillance disguised as technological progress. In a country with limited data protection safeguards, this raises pressing concerns about privacy and potential misuse as this technology will enable real-time monitoring of vehicles used for rallies, investigative journalism, or even medical care
The Illusion of Public Safety
Supporters of this system claim the plates will reduce car theft and improve traffic management. Yet experts question these assertions. A 2023 Wired investigation revealed that license plate readers in the U.S. and Europe have leaked sensitive data, exposing drivers to stalking, fraud, and government overreach. In Uganda, where cybersecurity safeguards are minimal, these risks can be significantly magnified.
Moreover, the system’s $190 (UGX 714,300) cost per plate for new cars and replacement costs of $40 for cars and $14 for motorcycles is hefty and unaffordable to the majority of the country already struggles with the high cost of living. This creates a two-tiered society. Motorcycle and taxi drivers, a lifeline for Uganda’s informal economy, face fines or confiscation if they can’t pay.
The Global Crisis on Privacy
Uganda’s dilemma does reflect a growing global trend which could very well become a crisis. From China’s Social Credit System to India’s Aadhaar biometric database, governments are normalizing mass surveillance under the guise of innovation. Even ‘model’ democracies like the U.S. and U.K. face backlash over unchecked police use of facial recognition.
What sets Uganda apart is the speed and scale of its digital authoritarianism. With no data protection laws and a censored press, citizens have little to no recourse. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation warns, “Once surveillance infrastructure is built, mission creep is inevitable.”
This concern is amplified by the country’s weak legal framework governing surveillance technologies. Key gaps include the absence of a law regulating CCTV and video surveillance, the weak enforcement of the Data Protection and Privacy Act of 2019—which, in theory, prohibits intrusive data collection without clear justification—and the lack of independent oversight to prevent abuses of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS). Without urgent reforms, Uganda risks entrenching a surveillance state with little accountability and significant threats to civil liberties.
To address the growing concerns surrounding Uganda’s digital license plate system, several measures must be implemented to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness. Transparency laws should mandate public disclosure of data contracts, storage policies, and access logs to prevent misuse and build public trust. Additionally, an independent, civilian-led oversight body should be established to audit surveillance systems and hold authorities accountable. Given the steep cost of the plates, the government should introduce subsidies or alternative pricing models to make them more affordable for low-income drivers. On a global scale, international pressure, including sanctions on firms like Global Security that facilitate repressive surveillance, could help curb the misuse of such technologies. Implementing these safeguards would strike a balance between security and civil liberties, ensuring that modernization does not come at the expense of fundamental rights.
While technological advancements can undoubtedly benefit society, they must be implemented with care to ensure that they do not infringe on fundamental rights. The introduction of digital license plates in Uganda represents a pivotal moment, forcing citizens to weigh the supposed benefits of security against the very real risks to their privacy and freedoms.
The rollout of digital license plates in Uganda is framed as a step toward enhancing national security, a goal that, on the surface, seems beneficial. However, the numerous concerns surrounding the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) raise valid skepticism. The high costs, unclear implementation strategy, and significant privacy risks make it difficult for Ugandans to embrace the initiative fully. Without clear safeguards, transparency, and accountability, these digital plates risk becoming yet another tool for unchecked surveillance rather than a genuine security solution. Until the government provides more answers than questions, the public will continue to demand clarity. Striking a balance between governance and civil liberties is crucial—without it, this project feels less like progress and more like a step toward an unsettling future of pervasive monitoring.
Privacy is the right to be let alone. The moment that’s gone, everything else crumbles. For Uganda, that moment is now.
Research By
Richard Ngamita, Mercy Abiro, and Mable Amuron