The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Military Police Brigade has launched an immediate crackdown on vehicles operating without number plates, registration or valid licences, warning that offenders will be arrested and prosecuted.
The operation, being conducted in coordination with Uganda Traffic Police, covers the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area and other parts of the country and will continue until further notice.
According to Colonel Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, the enforcement operation is targeting vehicles that are numberless, unregistered or unlicensed, as well as those whose number plates have been deliberately covered.
Security vehicles also under scrutiny
The UPDF said the operation will not spare vehicles belonging to security personnel, government agencies, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Drivers found operating vehicles with covered number plates will be arrested and prosecuted for what the military described as gross violations of traffic regulations.
Security personnel will also be subject to enforcement if they breach traffic rules, including driving without valid driving permits or licences.
The move signals a broader effort to ensure that security personnel and government officials comply with the same traffic regulations expected of other road users.
Military clothing in civilian vehicles targeted
The operation will also focus on civilian vehicles found carrying military stores and paraphernalia.
The UPDF specifically cited military jackets and other military items found inside civilian-registered vehicles, whether displayed on the driver’s seat or kept elsewhere in the vehicle.
Such vehicles will be impounded, while their drivers or owners may be arrested and subjected to court-martial proceedings under the UPDF Act 2025, as amended, according to the military statement.
Public urged to cooperate
The UPDF has urged motorists and members of the public to comply with traffic regulations and cooperate with security and traffic officers during the operation.
Colonel Magezi said the enforcement will proceed “in earnest” until further notice, meaning motorists should expect continued checks across Kampala and other parts of the country.
The operation comes amid heightened enforcement of road-use regulations, with authorities increasingly focusing on vehicle identification, driver licensing and compliance with traffic laws.
The UPDF has advised motorists to ensure their vehicles have proper registration and valid number plates, while drivers should carry valid driving permits and avoid keeping military stores or paraphernalia in civilian vehicles.
