MPs Demand to Meet Russian Firm over Motor Vehicle Tracking Project

Members of Parliament have demanded to meet and interact with the Russian firm contracted to implement the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).

During a joint meeting of the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs and Committee on Physical Infrastructure on Tuesday, MPs proposed a direct engagement with the firm and where necessary provide a prototype to demonstrate how the project will be implemented.

“We need to know how the system will work. We would like to meet the people vending the project; let them come and demonstrate to us and we interrogate or if they have prototypes then we can look at them so that we inform the House and the public just to be sure that the system is functional,” Hon David Karubanga, the Chairperson of the committee on physical infrastructure said.

Government is in partnership with M/S Joint Stock Company Global Security, a Moscow based company to install new number plates with unique security features on all government and private vehicles to curb high level murders and other crimes like robberies and car thefts.

Hon Robert Kasolo, the vice chairperson on physical infrastructure committee said that Parliament should not only interrogate how the motor vehicle tracking system works, but also interrogate the entire project including the profiling the Russian firm and how government reportedly signed the contract without competitive bidding.

"We need to know whether the system cannot be subjected to technical manipulation, cyber challenges and other encumbrances that come with a system of that nature. So we would like to interface with those people because I believe that our committee has capacity to analyze their technology,” Kasolo said.

The probe arises from a motion tabled by Hon Sarah Opendi (Tororo District) on 30 November 2021 urging Government to examine the implementation of ITMS system to address public concerns related to extra cost to be incurred by the owners of vehicles, likelihood of intrusion into peoples’ right to privacy and assurances on value for money.

The mover of the motion, Hon Opendi wants government to meet all costs required for installation of this tracking system. She also demands that government considers installing the tracking system on government vehicles, passenger service vehicles and assess its effectiveness before rolling out to all vehicles.

The two committees are expected to have another joint meeting on Wednesday next week with the Minister of Security and Minister of Works and Transport over the same project.