Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s Traffic Police have announced major changes to the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS), introducing steeper fines for speeding, new offences related to digital number plates, and stricter helmet regulations under the amended Traffic and Road Safety Act.
Addressing the media on Monday at Naguru Police Headquarters, Traffic Police Spokesperson SP Michael Kananura said the 2024 EPS Regulations, which take immediate effect, have replaced the 2004 version in line with recent amendments to the parent Act.
“These amendments reflect the evolving nature of Uganda’s traffic environment and are designed to address critical areas of concern,” Kananura noted.
Among the key changes is a tiered system of fines for exceeding speed limits, For example, motorists found to be driving between 1 to 30 km/h above the legal speed limit will be fined UGX 200,000, while those who exceed the limit by more than 30 km/h will face a UGX 600,000 fine.
“Take for instance, if you are in a place where the prescribed speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour, and you exceed by one to 30, let’s say you drive 51, 60, up to 80, the fine for you is 200,000 shillings as it has been. But then if you exceed 30 kilometres per hour plus, meaning in the area of 50 kilometres per hour, for you are driving 81, 82, 100 plus, your fine is 600,000 shillings,” Kananura explained.
The new regulations also target offences involving digital number plates. Under the ongoing Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) project, tampering with number plate technology, including damaging the embedded chips, is now an offence under the EPS framework.
“If you tamper with those digital plates, including damaging the chips or technology fixed inside, it will attract a penalty. Tickets have been introduced for these offences,” Kananura said.
Motorcycle riders, including those operating tukutukus (three-wheelers), are also subject to new helmet enforcement rules. Kananura emphasised that helmets must be properly fastened, not just placed loosely on the head.
“Fastening the crash elements, you know we have had motorcyclists who get these motorcycles and just put them on the head, just sit on the head, which is very dangerous because before you get an accident, before you fall down, actually, the element goes before you. So the law or the regulation talks of fastening, so when you put it there’s this strip below the chin, you have to make sure that it is well fixed and tied properly,” he said.
About the new Traffic Law
The Traffic and Road Safety Act (1998) was amended in 2023 to address rising concerns over road carnage, reckless driving, and outdated enforcement mechanisms. The revised law paved the way for the overhaul of the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS), a ticketing system originally introduced in 2004 to help police penalise traffic offenders on the spot without court proceedings.
With the 2024 EPS Regulations now in effect, authorities say the changes are designed to align enforcement with modern technologies, such as digital number plates and speed detection systems, under the broader Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).
Under the new regime, penalties have been tiered to reflect the severity of violations, especially those involving excessive speeding, a major contributor to road accidents in Uganda. The law also expands the scope of enforceable offences, including tampering with plate-tracking technologies and failure to wear or properly fasten helmets.
Authorities expect the revised scheme to not only deter habitual offenders but also enhance compliance with traffic laws, reduce fatalities, and streamline traffic policing by empowering officers with clear, enforceable guidelines supported by digital infrastructure.
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