20 drivers arrested as KCCA moves to end illegal parking

Kampala.

More than 20 drivers have been detained and at least 20 commuter taxis impounded following a new operation to end illegal parking and parks in the city.

The operation code-named: “Off Illegal Parks”, which was launched by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), started on Tuesday after the police and KCCA law enforcers closed the Namirembe Road park indefinitely.
The KCCA deputy spokesperson, Mr Robert Kalumba, said the operation will sweep across the five divisions of Kampala.

Mr Kalumba said the operation follows a directive by Ms Jennifer Musisi, the city authority’s executive director recently to all taxi operators in illegal centres to utilise the available taxi parks in Kampala.

“We want to rid the city of all illegal parking centres and ease traffic movements in the city. The public should be part and stop waiting for taxis at illegal places. Besides, that is abetting crime and yet in the end, they blame KCCA of failing to crack whip on defiant taxi drivers,” Mr Kalumba said yesterday.

However, the head of Kampala taxi drivers and conductors, Mr Mustapha Mayambala, said the parks are too congested to accommodate all the taxis operating in and around Kampala.

Mr Mayambala asked KCCA to draw proper route plans for taxis before allocation and closing what he called “the alternatives to small parks in the city”.

Kampala currently has six parks; the Old Taxi Park, New Taxi Park, Usafi Park, Namayiba Bus Terminal, Kisenyi and Nakawa parks.

Ms Musisi recently said with the Usafi Park under KCCA management, they will review all the prices to level them to suit the population served.

FACE CLOSURE
Other parks KCCA has listed for closure includeClock Tower Park, Burton Street Park, Cooper Complex Park and Bwaise parks.