The Independent is investigating a Russian-supplied system known as ITMS, which provides digital number plates for motor vehicles. The Ugandan government says ITMS is meant to improve road safety and modernize traffic management but there are mounting fears about how the AI-powered system, rolled out in 2024, could aid state surveillance at a time of heightened repression.
As of June 2024, ITMS, with the help of smart cameras, was being used to implement the Express Penalty System, which churns out exorbitant fines for flouting speed limits. The system is supplied by Joint Stock Global, a Russian company, that has faced bankruptcy in the past, adding to the litany of the concerns some analysts have pointed out.
