The Ugandan government has suspended the Automated Express Penalty System (EPS Auto) for one month, following public complaints over flawed traffic fines, technical issues, and poor implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspension, effective from June 12 to July 12,<\/strong> was announced by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, on Wednesday night via X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEffective midnight tonight, the implementation of the automated Express Penalty System (EPS Auto) will be temporarily suspended following a comprehensive review. The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, will issue a detailed statement tomorrow outlining the way forward. In the meantime, we urge all road users to continue driving responsibly and observing traffic rules,\u201d read the official statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thursday, the ministry cited the need for a thorough review, stakeholder consultations, and public education before the system can resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe listened,\u201d said Gen. Katumba. \u201cWe\u2019ve received numerous concerns from the public. While our intentions were right, EPS Auto\u2019s implementation needs improvement, both in function and communication.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EPS Auto was introduced under the Traffic and Road Safety (Prescription of <\/strong>Speed Limits Regulations), 2025, to improve road discipline through automated fines issued via camera surveillance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The system integrates CCTV surveillance, digital number plate recognition, real-time data analysis, and a national database to detect and record traffic violations. Offenders receive electronic notifications via SMS or email with details of the violation, location, time, fine amount, and payment instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the rollout was met with widespread criticism due to technical flaws. Many users reported duplicated or erroneous fines<\/strong>, often caused by mismatches between the Uganda Police EPS database and the new system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another major concern was inadequate road signage,<\/strong> especially in enforcement zones, which left drivers unsure of speed limits. In some cases, motorists were fined without any indication that a violation had occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The blanket enforcement of a 30 km\/h speed limit across urban areas drew particular backlash, with many arguing it was impractical and misaligned with the original intent of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drivers reported:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response, an emergency meeting was held with stakeholders including the Federation of Uganda Taxi Operators (UTOF), <\/strong>truck drivers, and the Airport Taxi Drivers Association. Participants identified systemic flaws, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen. Katumba clarified that the <\/strong>30 km\/h limit <\/strong>was intended only for high-risk <\/strong>areas\u2014schools, hospitals, markets, and churches\u2014not entire towns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also praised transport sector leaders for engaging in dialogue instead of striking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI appreciate the civil approach by taxi operators, truck drivers, and others in seeking engagement instead of resorting to strikes. This is the right way to resolve differences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One notable example was Nkumba to Katabi on Entebbe Road,<\/strong> where speed cameras were installed without visible signage. Many drivers received fines without knowing they had broken any rules, highlighting the lack of transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the backlash, Gen. Katumba announced a one-month suspension <\/strong>of EPS Auto to allow for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The government will also focus on public education,<\/strong> helping drivers understand how the system works, their rights, and how to appeal fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More inclusive stakeholder engagement is planned to improve transparency and restore public trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese are not small matters,\u201d Gen. Katumba said. \u201cThey affect livelihoods and public confidence. To win cooperation in improving road safety, we must get the basics right.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Ugandan government has suspended the Automated Express Penalty System (EPS Auto) for one month, following public complaints over flawed traffic fines, technical issues, and poor implementation. The suspension, effective from June 12 to July 12, was announced by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, on Wednesday night via X (formerly Twitter). […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4381,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,8,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","category-tech","category-transport"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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