There is a new metred-taxi service in town, and it is promising even lower fares than you have been paying. The service, known as Quick Taxi, said at its launch on Wednesday its fares would be as low as Shs900 per kilometre, which is a cab ride for roughly Shs6,000 from Ntinda to town, about half as cheap as any of its competitors in the market.
The minimum charge for the yellow-painted taxis will, however, be Shs4,500. Quick Taxi said it’s also unique in the sense that it combines the traditional cab model with tech-driven taxi services such as Uber.
As such, Quick Taxi will provide services using its own cars, but at the same time provide a phone app platform for ‘partners’ driving personal cars to provide cab services to Quick Taxi customers.
Cherry Men, the company’s finance director, told Matooke Republic 200 cars had been imported to serve the Kampala and Entebbe areas, while many more are expected to be added to the pool once Ugandan car owners sign up via the Quick Taxi app.
The app developed by a Ugandan team brings convenience and affordability, according to the company’s head of tech Econi Carl Peter. But it is the hybrid approach of using their own cars alongside those of private drivers that makes them different, he said.
“Unlike Uber we have a fleet so if drivers are engaged, there is an alternative. Plus, our concept of creating employment is different. Uber gives opportunities to those with cars, but what about those without?” Mr Econi wondered.
He added Quick Taxi had greater variety with rides for ordinary, corporate and VIP users, and that it would offer a more favourable revenue sharing arrangement with partners by allowing them to keep 80% of earnings while Quick Taxi takes 20%. Uber by comparison takes at least 25% off its partners’ earnings.