List of new gov’t MDAs number plates unveiled
Susan Kataike, Principal Communications Officer at the Ministry, reported a successful first year, with 2,143 government vehicles already equipped with the new digital plates.
The Ministry of Transport and Works has launched a modern digital car number plate system, ushering in a new era for vehicle registration in Uganda.
This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Works and Transport, aims to replace the traditional UAA 001A format with enhanced digital plates for government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Susan Kataike, Principal Communications Officer at the Ministry, reported a successful first year, with 2,143 government vehicles already equipped with the new digital plates.
The rollout also extended to motorcycles, covering 11,721 private and public bikes since November last year.
Key features of the new digital plates:
Government Vehicles:
Each ministry’s vehicles are identified by the prefix “UG” followed by a two-digit code specific to the ministry and a five-digit vehicle number. For instance, UG 32 00042 denotes a Ministry of Health vehicle, with “32” indicating the ministry.
Unlike the previous system using letters, the new codes utilize numbers, which has sparked criticism for being less intuitive.
Local Government Vehicles:
Local government vehicles feature the prefix “LG” followed by the district number, distinguishing them from central government vehicles which retain the “UG” designation.
Private and Public Vehicles:
Private vehicles under the new system have seven characters, such as UA 001AA.
Trailers use eight characters formatted as T UA 001AA.
Motorcycles are labeled with the prefix UMA 001AA.
Government MDA Codes under the New System:
A comprehensive list assigns unique codes to various government ministries, departments, and agencies, facilitating clear identification and categorization.
- UG 01: Office of the President
- UG 02: Education Service Commission
- UG 03: Electoral Commission
- UG 04: Equal Opportunities Commission
- UG 05: Health Service Commission
- UG 06: Judicial Service Commission
- UG 07: Local Government Commission
- UG 08: Public Service Commission
- UG 09: Uganda Human Rights Commission
- UG 10: Uganda Land Commission
- UG 11: Uganda Law Reform Commission
- UG 12: Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries
- UG 16: Inspectorate of Government
- UG 18: Defence and Veteran Affairs
- UG 19: Education and Sports
- UG 20: Finance Planning and Economic Development
- UG 21: Internal Affairs
- UG 22: Clerk to Parliament
- UG 23: Auditor General
- UG 24: Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- UG 25: Courts of Judicature
- UG 26: Directorate of Public Prosecution
- UG 27: Law Development Centre
- UG 28: East African Community Affairs
- UG 29: Energy and Minerals
- UG 30: Lands and Urban Development
- UG 31: Ministry of Health
- UG 32: Information and Communication Technology
- UP 00: Uganda Police Force
- UG 33: Public Service
- UG 34: Local Government
- UG 35: Water and Environment
- UG 36: Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities
- UG 37: Trade, Industries, and Co-Operatives
- UU 00: Uganda Prisons Services
- UG 38: Works and Transport
- UG 39: Foreign Affairs
- UG 40: Gender, Labour, and Social Development
- UG 41: Office of the Prime Minister
While the government highlights improved security and management benefits, the public response has been mixed. Concerns have been raised about the readability and memorability of the new plates, particularly for government vehicles. The shift to numerical codes for MDAs instead of distinct letters has been a contentious issue among critics.
Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to the digital number plate system, emphasizing its potential for enhancing vehicle tracking and overall management efficiency.
The Ministry expects continued feedback and plans to address concerns as the new system is fully implemented across the country.
