Uganda Revenue Authority has confirmed that all number plates booked before the 6^th of January 2025 will be released by the end of this month.

This is to enable the effective rollout of digital number plates on motor vehicles entering the country which commenced this month.

Addressing the media at the URA Headquarters on Wednesday, the Ag. Commissioner Customs Department, Asadu Kigozi Kisitu explained that the fees for the digital number plates are paid to the service provider before URA releases the motor vehicle.

“URA does not collect the fees for the number plates. They are collected by the service provider. So, when you have paid all tax dues to URA, you go to the service provider, pay for the number plates and get them,” he said.

Asadu added that the process is still the same, but the service providers have changed from two to only one.

“The process is the same, the only change is that of service providers. Otherwise, you still go to the system and the number will be allocated to you. And once the number is allocated to you, URA releases your motor vehicle,” he clarified.

Robert Mutebi, the Commissioner of Information Technology and Innovation, emphasized that importers should only apply for digital number plates after paying the required taxes.

“Digital number plates will be issued at the point of entry. If you are going through Dar es Salaam or Mombasa and you have paid your taxes, you get your number plate from there and drive into the country,” he said.

On motor vehicles in the bonds, Mutebi noted that it is still a normal process, and once the motor vehicle owners have cleared all taxes due, they apply for the digital number plates from the Ministry of Works and Transport through a web portal.

Following the rollout of digital number plates on all motor vehicles coming into Uganda, issuance of the old ones will end on January 31^st, 2025.

By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan