A court has directed the government to present key documents related to Uganda’s controversial Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) project, implemented by Russian firm Joint Stock Company Global Security. The order follows a successful petition by Legal Brains Trust, a civil society organisation advocating for transparency and public accountability.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Boniface Wamala ruled that the government must, within 60 days, produce documents including the project’s memorandum of understanding, contract agreements, financial model, and due diligence reports. The decision came after Legal Brains Trust, through advocate Stanley Okecho, argued that these materials—referenced in prior government affidavits—are crucial to ensuring fair adjudication of the case they filed in 2021.
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The documents, the group contends, are necessary to verify the legality and integrity of the government’s agreement with the Russian contractor, especially given the sensitive nature of the ITMS, which seeks to digitally track all vehicles and motorcycles across Uganda.
Although government lawyers, represented by Haji Yunus Kakande, argued that the documents were confidential and disclosure could harm national security and investor privacy, the court dismissed this position. Justice Wamala maintained that without examining the actual contents, claims of confidentiality could not be substantiated.
He further noted that the Civil Procedure Rules allow courts to demand document inspection even in cases where privilege is claimed, especially when doing so serves the interest of justice or reduces legal costs. To safeguard sensitive content, the judge ordered that the documents be submitted strictly for court inspection, with no public release unless later approved by the court.
Legal Brains Trust had also requested broader project-related information, including standard operating procedures, oversight structures, security justifications, and evidence of the President’s prior concerns that prompted the ITMS initiative. They also demanded insights into the technical committee’s work and financial oversight.
The ITMS project, publicly introduced in 2021, was conceived as part of a wider government response to urban crime and terrorism, particularly after the unsolved murders of high-profile individuals. Spearheaded by President Museveni’s ten-point security plan, the system mandates the installation of digital trackers on all motor vehicles. Cabinet approved the project in June 2021.
According to official disclosures, the project is structured as a public-private partnership, with the Russian contractor initially receiving 70% of collected penalties, while Uganda gradually assumes a larger share over a ten-year period.
Legal experts and rights advocates have long questioned the transparency surrounding the project. Previous attempts, including one by lawyer Male Mabirizi, to access the same documents had been blocked. Mabirizi later sued the government and was awarded compensation for violation of his right to information.
Reacting to the court’s latest ruling, Legal Brains Trust hailed it as a victory for the rule of law and democratic accountability. Their executive director, Isaac Ssemakadde—currently in exile—celebrated the development as a breakthrough in anti-corruption efforts, while their legal counsel warned the government against appealing the ruling in an attempt to evade scrutiny.
The case is seen as a litmus test for transparency in public-private partnerships, especially in projects involving the surveillance and collection of citizens’ personal data.
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