With EPS enforcement now real and automated, the age of manual discretion is over, Uganda’s roads are now under 24/7 digital surveillance, and non-compliance has a direct cost.
Kampala, Uganda: With the nationwide rollout of the Electronic Penalty System (EPS), the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) have clarified Uganda’s speed zones and the fines attached to violations, a major step in the fight against deadly road crashes.
Since last week, the police have been using the Automatic EPS system to fine errant motorists with tickets and sending electronic receipts to vehicle owners by mobile message or email.
Winston Katushabe, Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, says the new system enforces speed limits based on zone classification: 30 km/h for residential areas, school zones, hospitals, and markets, 50 km/h for urban centres and roads within towns, 80 km/h for regular highways and some expressways and 100 km/h for select expressways with high-speed design capacity.
Katushabe clarified that the 30 km/h limit is not universal; it specifically targets high pedestrian zones to safeguard children and vulnerable road users.
How the EPS Cameras work
Using Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, the EPS system detects speeding and red-light violations in real-time. Once a violation is flagged, a digital ticket is issued instantly, for example, exceeding the zone speed limit by 1–30 km/h – UGX 200,000 fine, while exceeding the limit by 31 km/h or more attracts a UGX 600,000 fine
The system, authorities assert, is already active on major roads and key intersections across the country. “Drivers must be alert and aware of road signage at all times. The cameras are smart; if you’re over the limit near a hospital or school, the system will catch it,” ITMS officials stated via X (formerly Twitter).
Full list of offences and fines
- Failure to use child restraints- Shs40,000
- Driving an uninsured vehicle -Shs40,000
- Driving a car with obscure registration numbers -Shs40,000
- Driving without a valid driving permit- Shs100,000
- Using a goods vehicle on a road in a manner which makes it dangerous to other road users -Shs200,000
- Using a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers or goods for hire or reward when it is not licensed to do so -Shs100,000
- Using a vehicle operator’s license in breach of the license issued -Shs200,000
- Using a motor vehicle which is not in good condition on a road -Shs60,000
- Driving with blood alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit -Shs 200,000
- Driving under the influence of drugs – Shs200,000
- Careless or inconsiderate use of motor vehicle- Shs100,000
- Failure to give right of way to authorised emergency vehicles or driving on shoulders- Shs100,000
- Failure to stop at a railway level crossing -Shs40,000
- Riding in a dangerous position- Shs60,000
- Carrying more than one person in addition to the driver, on a motorcycle, carrying a person on a seat not securely fixed to a motorcycle- Shs100,000
- Carrying of passengers on a motor vehicle, trailer, or engineering plant in such numbers or in such a position as to be likely to interfere with safe driving -Shs100,000
- Driving a motor vehicle without a copy of the registration book in respect of the vehicle -Shs40,000
- Carrying of passengers on a motor vehicle, trailer, or engineering plant, obstructing a road or waiting, or being left or parked or being loaded or unloaded on a road- Shs100,000
- Vehicles obstructing the road or waiting, or being left or parked or being loaded or unloaded in a road- Shs100,000
- Riding a motorcycle without a valid driving permit -Shs100,000
- Riding a motorcycle without wearing a crash helmet on the head- Shs40,000
The Ministry last week issued a public advisory calling on all motorists to respect posted speed limits and obey traffic signage to avoid costly penalties and unnecessary fatalities. “Speeding is among the top five risk factors causing crashes. Respect the rules. Avoid penalties. Save lives,” the advisory reads.
With EPS enforcement now real and automated, the age of manual discretion is over, Uganda’s roads are now under 24/7 digital surveillance, and non-compliance has a direct cost.
According to the 2024 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, speeding contributed to 44.5% of road crashes, with 25,107 accidents recorded and 5,144 lives lost, many of them preventable.
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