Government Launches Vehicle Sticker Verification System

The National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) has on Monday launched a vehicle sticker verification system to curb fake stickers in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

This follows reports that the movement authorization stickers that essential service providers have been using, have been forged by some unscrupulous individuals.

The motor vehicle sticker verification system will aid Uganda Police and its sister agencies in enforcing the nationwide lockdown by verifying that the motor vehicles moving are the ones that have been permitted by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

In the event that a vehicle sticker has been forged, when the number plate is crosschecked in the sticker verification system, the motor vehicle will be flagged as not authorized to move.

“Ministry of Works and Transport can be rest assured that that this new system will curb all falsification efforts and all forged stickers will be identified instantaneously. I urge all Ugandans to remain lab-abidding,” said Peter Ogwang, State minster for ICT and National Guidance while commissioning the system.

He later took to social media and tweeted, “In order to crack down on motorists with fake car stickers, Ministry of ICT along with NITA-U have developed a portal to help Ministry of Works and Uganda Police verify these stickers instantly. If found, you will be forged with forgery and attempting to spread a contagious disease.”

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni issued a Stay-At-Home advisory to reduce social interaction to help stop the transmission of the virus. Only essential service providers were permitted to move so as to keep the light on for critical services across the nation. To aid their movement, these essential service providers were issued movement authorization permits, in form of a motor vehicle car sticker.

Recently, the Ministry of ICT also in partnership with a local ICT company; Veritas Interactive Limited launched a new USSD helpline-*260# in order to decongest the call Centre phone lines in the fight against COVID-19. When one dials *260#, one will be able to; request for a Covid19 test, report a Covid19 case, get district Covid19 District personnel info, get list of Covid19 testing centres, request for RDC Contacts and get SMS alerts.