The Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) is warning that a shortage of digital vehicle number plates in Uganda is harming businesses. They say that the high costs and delays in getting these plates are causing problems for car dealers and customers. KACITA's chairperson, Issa Sekitto, expressed doubts about the ability of the current contractor to produce enough number plates and materials. He mentioned that customers often have to wait weeks or even months after paying for their orders, which leads many to cancel their purchases. This situation is hurting car dealerships' sales and reputation. The cost of a new digital number plate is about Shs714,300, which KACITA argues makes vehicles more expensive, especially as businesses are still recovering from economic struggles. The digital plates are part of a security initiative aimed at improving vehicle tracking and reducing theft. During a meeting with lawmakers, there were calls for better evidence of the supply issues and discussions about how to improve the situation. Some members of Parliament emphasized the need to balance security goals with making the plates affordable for the public. KACITA supports the idea of improving national security and road safety, but they feel that the current problems with number plates are making it harder to register and sell vehicles. The committee plans to question the agencies involved to find solutions.
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