Works ministry to take over full control of vehicle registration

The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) will starting July 1, 2023, handle all vehicle registration functions in the country. 

The move is the final stage in the full transition of vehicle registration from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to the ministry. 

“The transition will be managed in phases, with the first phase including post-registration services such as change of ownership, alterations, deregistration, duplicate plates and registration books. However, phase two, including the first registration processing, has been left with URA until MoWT is ready with the new motor vehicle registration system (MVRS),” URA said in a statement on Wednesday. 

It noted that the MVRS installation at MoWT will be ready by the next financial year. 

For the time being, URA will hand over first-time registration and licensing of foreign-registered vehicles. 

The new registration system will also capture vehicles coming into the country.  

“Additionally, MoWT will take over the integrations with the motor vehicle database that URA has provided to various MDAs including Insurance Regulatory Authority, Uganda Police and Uganda Registration Services Bureau. However, URA will remain with the management of the revenue processes thus continuing to collect the non-tax revenue from MVRS,” the statement added. 

The move will also align with the government’s implementation and operationalization of an intelligent transport monitoring system (ITMS). 

ITMS requires the issuance of new digital plates to enable the tracking of vehicles and motorcycles to combat crime. 

According to Ibrahim Bbosa, the URA publicist, having all aspects of vehicle registration offered by one agency will improve service delivery.

He said car owners will be informed of the changes as part of URA’s tax education programs before implementation.