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Minister of Security, Hon Jim Muhwezi, has responded to recent controversies surrounding the implementation of the Automated Express Penalty System (EPS), which has sparked debates on social media.
The minister was reeled into into the fiasco mostly on social media, with some users accruing him as head of the Ministry of Security, had used his position to profit from the project.
However, the Minister has denied any wrongdoing, clarifying that his ministry’s role in the process was limited to overseeing the procurement of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), through which the EPS is being implemented.
Clarifying His Role in the EPS Implementation
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Minister Muhwezi on Friday addressed the claims made on social media, stating, that people have been carried away but the excessive nature of the traffic penalties, losing focus on the ITMS’s main purpose of fighting violent crime.
Muhwezi further clatified that neither her, not his ministry was involved in the setting of the high traffic fines.
"Many things are being mixed up. The issue now is the amount of money, the penalties that people are being forced to pay. But this is not the responsibility of my ministry, it is the Ministry of Works and Transport that set the fines."
“The ITMS itself is intended to bring security by ensuring we can monitor vehicles, especially when crimes are committed,” he said.
Muhwezi explained that the penalties for offences, such as the 30 currency point fine for speeding, were set by the Ministry of Works and Transport, and not his own ministry.
He acknowledged the public’s concern over the high fines but reiterated that the Ministry of Works, led by Minister Edward Katumba-Wamala, is reviewing the fines to make them more reasonable.
Government's Response and Suspension of the EPS
Works and Transport Minister, Katumba-Wamala, who had earlier acknowledged the issues with the system, recently announced the suspension of the EPS for a month.
This decision will give the Ministry of Works and other stakeholders time to address the concerns raised by the public.
The suspension, effective from June 12 to July 12, 2025, aims to resolve the issues surrounding fines, the speed limit enforcement, and system errors.
Minister Muhwezi emphasised that the core purpose of the ITMS, and by extension the EPS, remains its role in improving security and fighting crime, and should not be clouded by the controversy over fines.
He assured the public that the government is taking the necessary steps to address the concerns, and the EPS would be fully reviewed to ensure it serves its intended purpose.