Yesterday, bus and taxi operators asked for the government to extend the period within which they have to register with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) so they can be allowed to transport passengers as registration is going on.
The Ministry of Works and Transport listened to their plea, and the Minister, Gen Katumba Wamala extended the grace period until Friday this week. This is to allow all those that have not yet registered with KCCA to do so but also allow passengers going upcountry to travel.
It is during this press conference that Katumba also decried the high prices taxi operators are currently charging passengers. The Minister asked them to stop being exorbitant and instead be fair in their charges, according to the Ministry’s Head of Public Relations and Media, Susan Kataike.
A day before public transport resumed, the Uganda Taxi Operators Association released a list of new taxi fares to and from Kampala, and on some routes the fares were more than doubled to cover for their bills. Taxis and busses were directed by President Museveni to carry only half of their full capacity to observe social distancing.
According to figures from KCCA, over 10,000 taxis have registered with the authority and Spokesperson Peter Kaujju has urged all those taxi operators that have not yet registered their taxis to promptly do so, so that they return on the road without disturbances from the authorities.