Taxi and lorry drivers in Kabale municipality are protesting the appalling condition of Esso Park. They claim that they have been operating under appalling conditions for the last two years and their pleas to the Kabale Central Division to rehabilitate the park have not yielded any results.
They say that park is full of potholes and muddy whenever it rains. The drivers say that the condition was worsened recently after Kabale municipality used a tractor to dig up the park. Bruce Ainebyoona, a driver operating in Esso Park says that they are now confused on what steps to take since their complaints to the authorities have not yielded anything.
Ainebyoona says that the taxi operators are charged shillings 1500 on boda boda from the Taxi Park to visit the toilets behind Kabale Central market. He wonders why the division authorities have ignored their concerns yet they pay shillings 15000 each months as parking fees and another 6000 shillings everyday for their operations.
John Rukundo, another taxi driver says that the Taxi Park also lacks toilet facilities for the drivers which forces them to trek long distances to answer nature’s call. He says that some of the drivers have placed a tarpaulin next to a trench that they use as a rest room. Enoch Bitwire another drivers blames Bakiga transporters that won the contract to manage the park saying they have failed to forward their grievances to the authorities.
Hassan Monday, the director Bakiga Transporters Company says that they are in a tricky situation as some of the drivers have refused to pay dues saying they can’t continue operating under such conditions. He says that they are liaising with the municipal authorities to make sure that the park gets a toilet and the potholes are sealed to reduce the mud in the park.
Andrew Baija, the Kabale Municipal Council health Inspector admits that the condition in Esso Park is appalling. He however denies claims the municipality has ignored the taxi park. Baija says that plans are underway to work on the park, adding that they have received the driver’s petition.
