Kampala, Uganda: The rollout of Uganda’s Automated Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) has triggered confusion and resistance among motorists, vehicle loan firms, and transport operators over who bears liability for speeding fines, the driver or the registered vehicle owner.
Under the EPS Auto system, enforcement is tied to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who was driving. This has left financial institutions and car loan companies bearing the brunt of violations committed by their clients, many of whom have not completed payments or formally transferred ownership.
“Most vehicles are bought on loan. The institutions retain the vehicle registration in their names until full payment. But now, the Auto EPS sends the tickets to them,” said Mr. William Busuulwa, Chairperson of Uganda National Transport Alliance.
Drivers Get Tickets, But Owners Get Fined
EPS tickets are issued using Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Once a violation is detected, such as speeding, a digital ticket and electronic receipt are sent to the phone number or email tied to the vehicle’s registration, not necessarily the driver’s.
To make matters worse, fines are supposed to be cleared within 72 hours, after which a 50% surcharge is added. This means a UGX 200,000 fine quickly becomes UGX 300,000 if ignored.
One such example is Gilbert Asasira, who took to social media over the weekend to recount a harrowing Friday journey from Mpala to Mukono and back. “I passed Abayita and ! Ticket 1; Via the Northern Bypass, Ticket 2; back to Entebbe via Abayita again, Ticket 3,” he posted.
In total, he was slapped with three fines amounting to Shs 1.4 million, which automatically rises to Shs 2.1 million after just three days if unpaid.
Accompanying his post were screenshots showing EPS tickets issued for driving at 58 km/h and 63 km/h, both in areas where the speed limit was 50 km/h, as mandated by the law for urban roads.
Speed Limit Enforcement Sparks Tensions
Many drivers have protested the 30 km/h speed limit in business zones, school zones, and market areas, calling it impractical for major highways like Kampala–Gulu, Kampala–Entebbe, and Kampala–Busia.
“Most highways have now become like streets due to roadside development. If drivers are restricted to 30 km/h almost throughout, what time will they arrive?” Busuulwa wondered.
Under Regulation 3 of the 2024 speed limit laws; “the maximum speed limit on a road adjacent to a school, church, hospital, market or business centre with a high human or vehicular interaction, shall be thirty kilometres per hour.”
This means even paved highways with heavy pedestrian or commercial activity must enforce the reduced 30 km/h limit.
Taxi Operators Threaten Strike
Leaders of Uganda’s taxi sector are demanding urgent government sensitization before enforcement continues, warning of a possible transport shutdown.
“We need road signage. Drivers don’t even know where speed zones begin. Yet the fines are already being sent,” said Mr. Rashid Ssekindi, Chairperson of Uganda Transport Operators Federation (UTOF).
“If the government doesn’t listen, we’ll strike,” added Mr. Mustafa Mayambala, a key taxi industry leader.
So far, some drivers have accumulated fines as high as UGX 900,000 in just a few minutes — penalties many claim are unfair given the current lack of signage and public education.
What the Law Says About Speeding Fines
- Exceeding speed limit by 1–30 km/h = UGX 200,000 fine
- Exceeding speed limit by more than 30 km/h = UGX 600,000 fine
- Failure to pay in 72 hours = 50% surcharge
In practical terms, if a vehicle moves at 91 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, the system flags the excess of 31 km/h and applies a UGX 600,000 penalty.
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