- Boda boda — motorcycle taxis — riders in some parts of Kampala, Uganda, have threatened to protest against digital number plates, an initiative by the government to address an increase in gun violence within the nation.
- New vehicle and motorcycle owners will need to pay Ugx 714,300 ($192) for digital number plates while existing users will be charged Ugx 150,000 ($40) for vehicles and Ugx 50,000 ($13) for motorcycles. The riders have expressed that the digital number plates are expensive, remaining unconvinced about their benefits.
- To support their doubts, Gilbert Kiweewa, a rider from Nansana, mentioned that despite his motorcycle being hit by a government vehicle with digital number plates, tracking down the vehicle has proven impossible.
In June 2022, Samwel Ng’ang’a, the Nairobi chairman of the Boda Boda Association, acknowledged that the initiative will enhance security. However, riders have threatened to protest, citing doubts about its usefulness and concerns about its cost.
In August 2023, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kahinda Otafiire, and the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), John Musinguzi, voiced concerns about the high cost of digital number plates. They warned that the exorbitant cost could reduce motorists' incomes and negatively impact revenue collection.
Simon Kasibante, a boda boda rider, said, “They want to turn every boda boda man into a thief. Boda boda’s can be the instruments of both right and wrong. A big percentage of us don’t see the reason to do wrong, or participate and abet in illegality. But if you take away our will to leave, we are left with no option.
“We have the biggest spy network in the country, which also means we know where every big wig in the country stays. We are not saying we will do anything violent, but in all honesty, we will find out who is behind the digital number plates that are going to torment us and match to their homes in protest.”
Uganda’s unemployment rate has contributed to the increase in boda-boda operators, with an estimated 350,000 boda-bodas operating in Kampala, the capital. Following a recent outcry by the riders about the high licensing cost, the government announced a reduction effective August 1, 2024.
In June 2024, the Ministry of Works and Transport announced that boda bodas would begin receiving digital number plates the following month. The process would begin with registering riders across the country, followed by installing the plates on their motorcycles.
The introduction of digital number plates aims to address the increase in criminal activity involving motorcycles used for escapes. These digital plates will feature an electronic device for real-time vehicle tracking and will help prevent tampering with registration plates.
