First batch of Pioneer Easy buses cleared at Mombasa

Pioneer Bus officials have said the move will create about 4,000 jobs, including employment for drivers.

MOMBASA/KAMPALA.

Public transport in Kampala is set for a major transformation with the arrival of the first batch of the passenger buses that will operate within the capital city. Pioneer Easy Bus (PEB) company has invested more than $10 million (Shs23 billion) in a fleet of 522 modern buses, Mr Savio Kakooza, the company head of security, said yesterday.

More buses
Speaking at Mombasa Port where he was overseeing the clearance of the first batch of 100 buses, Mr Kakooza said the remaining 422 units would be delivered in the next few months. “We have signed a concession of over four years with the government of Uganda to provide transport under the public private partnership and the service will start as soon as these buses arrive in Kampala,” he said.

The PEB marketing manager, Mr Herbert Odankie Mucunguzi, said yesterday that for the start the buses will be operating within the radius of 10 kilometres before they roll out to the planned radius of 30 kilometres when the rest of the buses arrive. Kampala Capital City Authority has already designated 800 bus stops in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan.

KCCA has a five-year agreement with PEB, a transport company which was established in 2005, to run the public transport in western and eastern parts of the city. Mr Mucunguzi said the bus service is aimed at providing Ugandans with modern public transport services and will offer affordable and scheduled services to all city commuters in Kampala eastern parts of Mukono, Luzira, Bweyogerere, Ntinda, Mulago, Nakawa and Namugongo. The buses will also ply western routes of Natete and Rubaga.

Regional development
Each bus has a capacity of 60 passengers and has special seats for the physically challenged and the elderly. “These are some of the most modern buses from the Chinese market designed to take care of all persons without discrimination,” he said.

The company, Mr Kakooza said, would replicate the same in other East African cities, including Nairobi and Mombasa that are grappling with congestion due to the high number of 14-seater matatus.

“Public transport in East African cities is facing a crisis with massive congestion due lack of innovation in the sector and these are the problems we intend to address. In the spirit of the East Africa Community, our vision is to invest in transport in East Africa since there is great potential,” he added.

Contrary to some taxi operators’ complaints in Kampala that the new buses would drive them out of business, Pioneer officials said the company would create more than 4,000 jobs as the shuttles will operate for 24 hours with an eight-hour shift.

Meanwhile, the development comes at a time when controversy is raging in the public transport sector in Kenya over planned phasing out of the 14-seater matatus from Nairobi. Matatu owners have protested against the proposal, saying thousands of Kenyans will be rendered jobless.

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