Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, has raised a red flag over what he describes as the punitive and exploitative implementation of Uganda’s Electronic Penalty System (EPS), calling for urgent reforms to address growing public outcry.
In a strongly worded letter dated June 10, 2025, addressed to the Minister of Works and Transport, Ssenyonyi cited systemic irregularities, technical failures, and infringement on motorists’ rights as core issues plaguing the automated traffic enforcement system.
“While road safety is a shared national priority, EPS in its current form lacks fairness, transparency, and has become a source of anguish rather than correction,” Ssenyonyi wrote.
The letter, which was also copied to the Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, and the Uganda Police Traffic Directorate, demands immediate stakeholder engagement and corrective action addressing key concerns, citing that;
Many Ugandan motorists remain in the dark about how the EPS operates, especially on how to check, contest, or resolve fines. The letter specifically points to roads like the Kampala Northern Bypass, where drivers are frequently fined for speeding in areas without visible signage.
“This is entrapment disguised as enforcement,” Ssenyonyi added.
With EPS mandating slow speeds even in high-crime zones, Ssenyonyi warned that motorists are increasingly vulnerable to criminal ambushes and robberies, especially during night travel.
Motorists with outstanding EPS fines are barred from renewing driving licenses, vehicle permits, and even travelling internationally, yet the appeals process is slow and inefficient, and if the motorists are acting under instructions from live traffic officers, especially during rush hours receive EPS-generated penalties for disobeying traffic lights. Ssenyonyi warned that this dual system is chaotic and unjust.
Ssenyonyi noted that with Parliament currently in recess, debate on the EPS’s flaws has been delayed, further frustrating affected citizens. However, he insisted the issue cannot wait.
“This is not a partisan matter. Every Ugandan, regardless of political affiliation, deserves clarity, fairness, and respect when engaging with state systems,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to convene immediate consultations involving traffic police, civil society, motorists’ unions, and legal experts, to redesign the system in a manner that promotes safety without violating rights.
Ssenyonyi’s intervention comes amid a surge of complaints across the country. Social media has become a sounding board for drivers sharing stories of unexplained fines, questionable photos, and hours spent at EPS offices seeking redress, often in vain.
“I was fined 200,000 shillings for speeding in a zone I didn’t even know existed. When I went to appeal, they told me to just pay first,” said Peter Kaggwa, a delivery driver based in Wakiso.
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