By The government has admitted that its Express Penalty System (EPS Auto) designed to automate traffic enforcement and penalize reckless drivers has significant flaws and will remain suspended until further notice.
The Ministry of Works and Transport announced this week that the system, which was halted on June 12, 2025, is under thorough review after mounting criticism from road users, especially public transport operators, over unfair fines, inaccurate speed readings, and confusing penalty timelines.
The review process has since uncovered operational gaps, systemic errors, and inconsistencies in how penalties were applied raising questions about the reliability of the system that had become a source of frustration and public outrage.
“Several concerns have been identified, ranging from speed limit errors, system glitches, unclear payment procedures to unreasonable surcharge structures,” the Ministry stated.
The suspension followed multi-agency consultations involving the Uganda Police Force, KCCA, the Ministry of Justice, and technical partners. Legal and technical committees have now been tasked to study the issues in depth and propose practical reforms before any reimplementation.
Despite the freeze on EPS Auto operations, the Ministry has warned that Uganda’s road safety laws remain in full force. Motorists are still expected to respect speed limits, traffic signs, and pedestrian zones, or risk other enforcement measures.
Susan Kataike, Principal Communications Officer for the Ministry, reminded the public that road safety is a shared responsibility and urged continued cooperation as reforms take shape.
Once the review process is complete, the findings will be submitted to Cabinet for final approval, followed by public sensitization before any new rollout.
While the EPS Auto was intended to improve discipline on Uganda’s roads, its bumpy rollout has forced the government to go back to the drawing board a move many see as necessary to rebuild trust in traffic enforcement systems.
