Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition in Uganda’s Parliament, has formally addressed the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, expressing grave public concerns over the intensified implementation of the Automated Electronic Penalty System (EPS) across the country.
In a letter dated June 10, 2025, Ssenyonyi highlighted widespread discontent among motorists and road users, urging a thorough review of the system.
Ssenyonyi noted that while the EPS aims to enhance road safety and order, its current execution has sparked significant alarm. He pointed to inadequate public sensitization, with many drivers unaware of how the system works or how to contest wrongful fines.
“The roll-out of this system has not been well informed on how the system works, how to verify penalties, or how to contest wrongful fines,” he wrote, adding that enforcement appears inconsistent, particularly on the Kampala Northern Bypass, where low-speed limits are enforced without clear justification.
The opposition leader also raised red flags about the private company managing the EPS, Joint Stock Company-Global Security. He criticized the revenue-sharing model, which allocates 80% of fines to the company while only 20% goes to the government.
Ssenyonyi further questioned the company’s lack of prior experience in such projects, calling the arrangement “fishy.” He referenced a previous minority report, adopted by Parliament, that had rejected the initiative due to these concerns.
“Everything around this project is suspect,” Ssenyonyi stated on his X account, echoing the letter’s call for a formal review and recalibration of the EPS framework. He urged the government to address these issues through a stakeholder-inclusive process, emphasizing the need for a system that is punitive yet educative, rather than coercive or exploitative.
The letter, copied to the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Director of the Uganda Police Traffic Directorate, seeks to initiate a dialogue to resolve the mounting public outcry. As debates intensify, Ssenyonyi’s intervention has reignited calls for transparency and accountability in the EPS rollout, leaving the government under pressure to respond.
Discussion about this post