Hundreds of passengers were left stranded due to lack of taxis as public transport resumed work today Thursday in different parts of the country.
Even with transport fares doubled, many people showed up in taxi and bus parks as well as several stages in search of vehicles to take them to their intended destinations.
In Mbarara, one of the travelers said it was possible for one to contract Coronavirus due to the crowds of people that showed up to travel to Kampala. “I decided to go back home and wait until this madness ends” she says.
While there were crowds in Mbarara, at the Bus and Taxi parks in Soroti town, things were different. Only a handful passengers showed up to travel to different destinations and buses were leaving with just a few people on board at 9:00 am after they were delayed by over an hour.
By 9:00am, only two taxis had set off from Soroti for Mbale while none to Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Amuria and Serere. It is believed that passengers are finding it hard to cope with the new rates.
Transport from Soroti to Kampala is now 40,000 shillings from 20,000, Soroti to Kangole in Napak district 35,000 from 15,000 shillings, Soroti to Kotido 40,000 from 20,000, Soroti to Lira now costs 20,000 from 12,000 shillings, Soroti- Serere town costs 10,000 from 5,000 and other destinations like Kagwara in Kadungulu now cost 20,000 from 8,000 shillings.
Meanwhile in Fort Portal, very few passengers turned up in different bus parks and taxi parks too. At Nyakaseke Taxi Park, by 10:00 am, only four passengers were at the park preparing to travel to Kampala. Baby coaches set off at 11:00 am, only 15 passengers to Kampala.
Transport from Fort Portal to Kampala by bus has doubled from 20,000 to 45,000 shillings, Fort Portal to Kyenjojo from 5,000 10,000 shillings, Fort Portal- Mbarara 35,000 from 25,000 shillings.
Meanwhile in Kampala, at least 60 taxis were impounded over lack of route charts. These were drivers found loading passengers at gazetted and non-gazetted parks yet they had not registered with Kampala Capital City Authority –KCCA and the Ministry of Works to secure route charts.
According to Patrick Onyango the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, some taxis had been impounded but could not confirm the actual number, adding that the impounded taxis had been parked at various police stations in the Kampala metropolitan area.
