David Luyimbazi, the Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) said that there are only 445 taxi-gazetted taxi stages in Kampala
The government has banned touts and brokers in taxi and bus parks in the central business district of Kampala and the Kampala Metropolitan Area. The State Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye announced the decision at the government-owned Uganda Media Center Tuesday.
He explained that they reached the decision after receiving a number of complaints from passengers and the transport operators about brokers who charge travelers exorbitant fares and steal their property in the transport terminals.
According to the Minister, during their spot visit to the bus and taxi parks on September 30th, 2022, they found many brokers on the streets and near the bus terminals who were actively seeking passengers, which contravenes section 99 of the traffic and road safety Act of 1998 that prohibits touting.
Kyofatogabye also directed transporters to close all booking offices outside bus terminals or taxi parks and all illegal taxi stages in Kampala.
He said the move is aimed at creating order, improving the safety of passengers, and reorganizing public transport in Kampala. Kyofatogabye urged bus companies to embrace the digital platform where passengers can book their transport tickets online.
David Luyimbazi, the Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) said that there are only 445 taxi-gazetted taxi stages in Kampala that will be allowed to operate starting Wednesday. He said that KCCA backed by Police is to carry out operations in the central business district and the metropolitan areas to eliminate taxis that operate along the roads.
Winston Katushabe, the Commissioner of transport from the Ministry of Works and Transport, said that the operation is also targeting buses and taxis which, violate the route charts allocated to them. Katushabe vowed to cancel the licenses of bus companies that will be found loading passengers outside their terminals.
Farida Nampiima, the Traffic Police spokesperson said that operations are to start this morning. She added that other operations that have been instituted by police are still ongoing throughout the festive season.
For a long time, taxi drivers at Usafi park have decried low passenger flow because of illegal stages, which operate along the streets in Kampala.
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