Uganda’s parliamentary minority report has uncovered serious irregularities surrounding the contract awarded for the country’s controversial traffic monitoring system to a Russian company.
The report warns that the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) was designed not for genuine road safety improvements but to exploit motorists through inflated revenue projections and questionable contract terms.
A group of nine legislators, led by Rukiga County MP Roland Ndyomugenyi, issued a dissenting report rejecting the majority committee’s endorsement of the 10-year deal signed in July 2021 with Joint Stock Company Global Security. The minority group highlighted legal breaches, financial deception, and procurement irregularities, calling for the immediate termination of the contract. Despite their warnings, Parliament approved the Statutory Instrument enforcing penalties for traffic offenses in July 2024, a move that has sparked widespread public anger.
The minority MPs revealed that Global Security is a financially unstable firm from Russia, insolvent at the time of signing the contract and entangled in multiple bankruptcy lawsuits. The company had no prior experience managing projects of this magnitude, raising questions about the government’s due diligence during procurement. The MPs criticized the absence of a competitive bidding process, noting that the contract was single-sourced, contrary to Uganda’s procurement laws.
Central to their concerns is the flawed financial model projecting nearly $1 billion in revenue, mostly from traffic fines. The MPs argue this model is unrealistic and exploitative, pointing out that many Ugandan roads lack proper markings and traffic lights necessary for the system to function effectively. They warn that the government may pressure motorists with unfair fines to meet revenue targets, with no fallback plan if expected earnings fall short.
Motorists have already reported receiving excessively high fines, sometimes amounting to millions of shillings within a single day, as well as confusion arising from conflicting instructions between automated traffic signals and human officers. This has raised public outcry and doubts about the system’s fairness and effectiveness.
The report also highlights that Global Security failed to register as a foreign company in Uganda until nearly two years after the contract was signed, violating national business laws. The private ownership of the company by four individuals with no apparent government ties has intensified concerns over oversight and accountability, especially given the sensitive nature of traffic surveillance.
The minority MPs urge the government to halt the implementation of the ITMS and revoke the contract. They call for a full audit and a transparent procurement process to involve competent and vetted firms. The report concludes that the deal is a misuse of public funds and a scam that threatens to burden Ugandans unjustly while benefiting a financially troubled foreign company.
As protests over the penalty system grow, this report strengthens public fears that the traffic monitoring scheme prioritizes revenue extraction over road safety, undermining trust in the government’s ability to manage national infrastructure projects responsibly.
