Motor vehicle dealers are warning that persistent delays in the issuance of Uganda's digital number plates are hurting businesses, with some firms reportedly struggling to deliver vehicles to clients on time.

The publicity secretary of the Associated Motor Vehicle Dealers, Marvin Ayebare, says the process, which previously took about a day, can now take weeks, months and, in some cases, significantly longer.

The delays have left dealers unable to release vehicles to clients, forcing some to refund customers after failing to meet agreed delivery timelines.

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"The situation has also resulted in increased operational costs, lost contracts and declining business, with some companies considering or already shutting down," Ayebare says.

The dealers are particularly concerned about the growing backlog as the government moves to migrate vehicles from the old number plate system to digital plates.

According to the dealers, about 2.2 million vehicles are expected to be migrated to digital number plates. However, they claim the current production rate is only about 100 plates per day, which they estimate could take roughly 80 months--or more than six years--to clear the backlog.

They are questioning whether the service provider has the capacity to handle the volume of applications, particularly given Uganda's growing vehicle population.

The dealers also question the value of the digital plates, citing concerns over their cost and the effectiveness of the tracking devices.

Ayebare argues that the official cost of about Shs714,300 is excessive, especially when compared with the previous number plate charges and the cost of trackers available on the local market.

The additional costs, they say, are ultimately passed on to consumers.

The dealers are calling on the government to review the pricing structure, improve the production and issuance process, and provide clear timelines for motorists waiting for their plates.