Government has suspended taxi drivers associations for one month over unfair charges including all charges and fees imposed on taxi operators in Kampala.
While addressing the media in Kampala on Wednesday, Betty Amongi, the minster for Kampala also ordered for the closure of all these taxi associations offices with immediate effect until everything is streamlined.
“Government commenced the process-of regularizing the public transport sector in Kampala and the Greater Metropolitan Area.15,000 commuter taxis have been registered with KCCA and 14,000 with the Ministry of Works and Transport to-date and assigned route charts for the routes on which they will be plying,” she said.
She explained that the ministry has received a number of Complaints from the taxi operators regarding the various charges that are being levied by various Associations in the taxi business.
“To be allocated a stage by stage leaders/managers Entry Fee per entry shs 4,500 .To allow a taxi to park when the stage is full as they wait for their loading turn in a stage is between shs 5.000 to shs 20 000/= Every time a taxi loads passengers among others.all the above charges being charged by various Taxi Associations have been suspended for one month,” she said
She also explained that during this one month, there will be no withdrawal of the collected welfare fees held on the accounts of the various these Associations until the sector is regularized.
“All Taxi drivers being forced to pay the above fees are encouraged to report the cases of extra charges to KCCA Park Administrators,” she said.
She however allowed the private taxi parks to charge fee not exceeding the agreed money.
“KCCA signed an Memordum of understanding with Private Taxi Parks not to charge parking fees exceeding shs 3,500 per vehicle per day Failure to comply shall lead to KCCA revoking the MOU,” she warned.
Taxi operators and the owners have been encouraged to start Savings and credit organisation (Sacco’s) so that they obtain support from government.
“The President directed KCCA to sensitize and facilitate taxi drivers and conductors to form SACCOs so as be supported by government. all Taxi Drivers/conductors’ SACCOs and Associations which are already in existence should report to KCCA with their registration documents/certificates,” she said.
