Africa-Press – Uganda. DRIVING PERMITS |The Government has extended the contract of Face Technologies, allowing the company to continue issuing driving permits to Ugandans, as a new company gets ready to take over.The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, said the Face Technologies contract expired in May this year, and was set to hand over to the Uganda Security Printing Company (USPC).However, speaking at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday, Katumba told journalists that the Government had decided to extend the company’s contract up to February 28, 2021.”We do not want to create a gap between the transition from Face Technologies to the Uganda Security Printing Company. So, we have agreed that we shall extend their contract. We believe that by then they will have put everything in place,” Katumba said. He said the Government believed that by May this year, USPC would have installed all its equipment to take over the operations, but this was not possible.Katumba said it was then agreed that Face Technologies be given a six-month extension running up to November 2020, but still USPC was not ready to take over, compelling the Government to extend Face Technology’s contract for another three months.COVID-19 delay”USPC was not able to have all its equipment installed by that time because of COVID-19. There were limitations in the institutions of travel, so the technical people in the ministry could not travel to check on the machinery,” Katumba explained.The minister, however, implored Ugandans to embrace USPC, saying it is capable of offering more superior services.”There will be no gap, and one of the advantages is that USPC will produce a superior product compared to Face Technologies,” he said.Outlets closedTo pave way for USPC, which is expected to start operations in March next year, Katumba said Face Technologies has closed its regional driving permit issuance offices in Jinja, Mbale, Gulu, Arua, Fort Portal, and Mbarara.He said only the head office at Kyambogo will remain open.According to the transport ministry, the closure of other branches was to allow USPC to remodel their facilities.The decision by the Government to deny Face Technologies the chance to continue offering services left many Ugandans disappointed because of what they called a great improvement of the permit issuance process, which would take a few hours.The tender for a new service provider was also not publicly advertised as per the provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.The works ministry was then to take over the function, and a new government-owned company, Uganda Security Printing Company, which is a subsidiary of the Uganda Printing and Publishing Company Ltd, was named as the new issuer of the permits. USPC, in partnership with German fi rm Varidos, which is producing electronic passports, were to start production and issuance of the driving permits on December 1.Components of permitWinstone Katushabe, the commissioner for transport regulations and safety, told journalists that the new driving licence to be issued by USPC will be recognised internationally.The card design to be produced by USPC is International Standards Organisation compliant and will be used in the East African Community, Southern African Development Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa regions, even at a global level.Fika SalamaTo reduce the increasing road accidents ahead of the festive season, Katumba ordered the Police to reinstate ‘Fika Salama’ traffic operations on all major roads.Katumba said the operations will help get rid of reckless drivers during festivities, and also reduce the number of road accidents.He attributed the number of accidents to an increase in motor vehicles.Operation Fika Salaama was an interagency operation that was implemented by traffic Police and other security operatives, the transport ministry, and other stakeholders in enforcing the traffic regulations.
