Court orders govt to provide details of vehicle tracking deal, due diligence report
The High Court in Kampala has ordered the government to give details of the agreement it inked with a Russian business to implant digital tracking devices in all vehicles and motorcycles in the country to Legal Brains Trust.
The Ugandan government and a Russian corporation, Joint Stock Company Global Security, agreed to deliver digital trackers to all vehicles in the country as a security measure, and Legal Brains Trust took the arrangement to court.
In response, the Attorney General defended the agreement, claiming that its execution does not violate the right to privacy and is solely intended to track criminal vehicles and motorcycles.
The High Court, on the other hand, wrote to the Attorney General on Friday, requesting that he deliver the Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the Russian corporation for review.
“Take notice that the applicant requires you to produce for their inspection and copying the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the government of Uganda and the Russian Joint Stock Company Global Security to carry out a feasibility study for an Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) referred to in paragraph 8 of Hajji Yunus Kakande’s affidavit in reply,” the court said.
The court has also ordered the government to submit a contract between the government and a Russian business for the provision of a digital monitoring and tracking system for the monitoring of automobiles and motorbikes in the country via a real-time control monitoring center.
Legal Brains Trust has also requested that the Attorney General, on behalf of the government, submit the due diligence report as well as the technical and financial capability assessment studies for the project for examination.
The court also wants the government to give details on the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System mentioned in the agreement, as well as specifics on the gory and shocking crimes committed by criminals riding motorbikes, which the Attorney General claims as a defense in the case.
The situation
The Legal Brains Trust has challenged the installation of digital tracking devices in motorcycles and vehicles, claiming that it violates people’s right to privacy.
According to the petitioners, the court must issue a temporary injunction prohibiting the government and all of its agents from enforcing presidential directives, cabinet resolutions, agreements, contracts, statutory instruments, and other documents relating to the installation of digital tracking devices in vehicles and motorcycles throughout the country.