Vintage cars, once considered treasures of Uganda’s automotive history, are under siege as their owners and drivers intensify their efforts to resist the government’s insistence on incorporating new registration numbering systems into the automated vehicle register. These classic vehicles, celebrated for their rarity and historical significance, bear the iconic six-character registration numbers like UAA 001, reminiscent of an era that’s fading away. However, over the last three years, owners of vintage cars have been compelled to replace their cherished registration plates with the contemporary ones to comply with updated regulations.
Frederick Nsibambi, the Deputy Executive Director of the Cross Culture Foundation of Uganda, asserts that vintage cars, like other historical artifacts, are an integral part of Uganda’s heritage and must be protected. At the launch of a campaign by CCFU and Uganda Railways Corporation, Nsibambi emphasized the importance of preserving these vehicles and their role in locating historic properties, making vintage cars a focal point of attraction.
The Vintage Collectables Rotary Fellowship (VCRF), a passionate group of vintage car enthusiasts, handed a copy of their petition to Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, the Ministry of Works and Transport, reiterating their concerns over the forced change of registration numbers.
Mackay Mwebingwa, the Chairman of VCRF, laments the challenges vintage car owners face, including difficulties in selling, buying, restoring, and insuring these vehicles. The government’s move to automate the registration system has not only increased operational costs but also stripped these classic cars of their unique and attractive character that once defined them.
Moreover, vintage car owners struggle to maintain their vehicles due to the inadequacy of the road infrastructure, originally designed for fewer cars. These cars were engineered to rely on a free flow of fresh air to cool their engines, a system that is now compromised by the congested and jammed roads in Kampala, causing overheating and technical problems.
Minister Katumba Wamala acknowledges the need to safeguard old properties, such as buildings, cars, and railway equipment, not only for tourism but also as a source of inspiration for the contemporary civil engineering community. He advocates for in-depth studies of old buildings that have stood the test of time, with an emphasis on the technologies of their era.
Gen. Wamala highlights the nostalgia associated with vintage cars and their role in promoting tourism. He expresses curiosity about how the owners manage to maintain these vehicles, given the scarcity of replacement parts.
Vintage cars play a vital role in the promotion of Uganda’s tourism industry and are considered a national heritage. While a few are still driven on public roads, many are preserved for public displays to raise awareness about Uganda’s rich heritage.
The partnership with Uganda Railways Corporation was formed because the corporation possesses some of the oldest train parts and accessories, dating back to the 19th century, making them valuable subjects for study and preservation.
Sarah Nambasa, the Acting Managing Director at URC, emphasizes the agency’s unique position to lead the campaign, as they have preserved various historical equipment, both functioning and non-functioning, such as the Station Building on Nasser Road, which has remained intact for almost a century. Additionally, the Station House in Jinja serves as a benchmarking subject for understanding historical construction techniques and technologies.
