Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA has been directed to enforce the return of taxis plying Entebbe route to Usafi and Kisenyi parks.
The directive was made by the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda while addressing the media at the Uganda Media Center.
Minister Kabanda said that they held a meeting with the taxi leadership and resolved that the taxis operating in the old taxi park, and along Entebbe Road near Conrad Plaza return to the gazzetted stages.
The directive comes after taxi operators in Usafi Park petitioned the Minister challenging the continued operations of Entebbe Road stages in the old taxi park and other illegal stages which have affected the turn up of passengers in Usafi Park.
Kabanda says KCCA should enforce the directive immediately and also work with the contractor of the Kampala Flyover project to ensure that the temporary pedestrian walkways established are safe, with enough space and lighting for the security of road users.
Since the construction of Usafi Park, there have been cries from both taxi operators and market vendors about the absence of customers. While taxi operators complained of their colleagues running illegal stages outside the park, the vendors said when passengers and taxi operators are unavailable they receive few customers.
Mustafa Mayambala, the Vice Chairman of the Uganda Transport Operators Federation-UTOF, an umbrella body for taxi operators says there are over 300 taxis that are meant to operate in Usafi Park but are currently in Old Taxi Park. Mayambala says as leaders, they will rally the taxi operators to adhere to the Minister’s directive.
