Taxi owners, drivers and conductors have petitioned parliament following the introduction of bus services that will operate in Kampala.
The taxi operators were represented by four organizations including National Union of Taxi Operators (NUTO), Drivers and central conductors Association (DACCA), Commercial Taxi Owners and Transport Development Association (COTODA) and PODRATS International Driving Institute. Under these organizations there are about 20,000 people with about 15,000 taxis plying different routes in the country.
Ali Mutebi, the chairman of the National Union of Taxi Operators (NOTU) expressed fear that once the bus lanes are set out by KCCA, the taxis will not be allowed to park in the areas either to pick or disembark passengers. This move, they say, will push the taxi owners out of business.
Monopoly in the industry is another fear expressed by the taxi owners and operators. Mutebi complained that Pioneer Easy Bus is being given the monopoly over the already existing system that has served for more than 20 years.
Henry Ssentongo from COTODA observes that phasing taxis out will lead to negative financial implications. He says many owners are servicing loans used to acquire the taxis. A taxi, he says costs about 40 million shillings and would need time to off set such loans.
The owners, drivers and conductors want both the buses and taxis to be allowed to operate concurrently. They observed that Uganda is a free economy and phasing out the taxis would mean increasing the rate of unemployment in the country.
The taxi owners also want to be granted the first priority in the public transport sector while at the same time be consulted on any emerging issues.
Mustafa Mayambala, the DACCA chairman says it is government’s responsibility and that of KCCA to see that the jam is averted in the city centre. He welcomed the idea to have satellite parks to serve passengers traveling long distances. This move, he says, will ease the traffic within the town service.
Receiving the petition, Florence Kintu, the chairperson public service and local government committee stated that some of the issues are already being tackled in the committee which has been overseeing the preparedness of the bus service sector.
Kintu also stated that the committee will in consultation with the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, address the other issues raised in the petition.
The petition by the taxi owners comes in the wake of rolling out a bus transport system in Kampala and its environs. The move is aimed at decongesting Kampala city of jam.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has contracted Pioneer Easy Bus Company that is expected to bring 522 buses. So far, the company has brought in about 100 buses that will begin operations after KCCA has sanctioned the contract.
