Chaos as taxi drivers in Usafi park go on strike

Kampala. A strike by taxi drivers and vendors in Usafi Taxi Park yesterday disrupted public transport and brought business to a standstill.
The drivers were protesting against their colleagues who they say have illegally continued to operate on streets even after Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) banned 50 taxi stages in a move that was aimed at curbing congestion in the city.
The alleged illegal stages include, Clock Tower, Mini-Price, City Square, Mutasa Kafeero, Mega standard and Bank of Uganda, among others.

At about 7am, all main gates to Usafi park were closed, blocking any taxi trying to move in or out with passengers.
Those taxi drivers who had refused to engage in the strike were forcibly removed from their vehicles.
Traders at the park joined in the strike, closing their shops. Business in the adjacent Usafu Market was also paralysed.
The traders also complained that the shortage of passengers at the taxi park is hindering their business.
Taxi operators from Usafi park then proceeded to Ben Kiwanuka Street and Shoprite Supermarket on Entebbe Road, and forced out passengers who had boarded taxis in stages in the two locations.

Passengers were left stranded, loitering around looking for other means of transport.
“All we have are false promises from the minister of Kampala that our issues will be solved but there is nothing they have done,” shouted Mr Othman Kasasa, a taxi driver.
Kampala minister Beti Kamya yesterday told Daily Monitor in a telephone interview that the Usafi taxi operators have a valid point since they complied with the KCCA directive. She, however, called for calm saying the issue would be resolved.
The taxi drivers and traders asserted that they had hopes of making good money this festive season but their hopes have been shattered by the unclear responses from the authority.

Mr Deogratias Mbabazi, the personal assistant to the Lord Mayor, said: “We have had several consultative meetings over Usafi issues and a select committee was established to do more investigations on the increasing concerns, because there is a lot of politicking here. Whatever was said is not implemented.”
The striking drivers and taxi conductors tried to block Entebbe road stones and sticks to stop movement of taxis but police blocked their attempts, arresting some.
Early this month, Ms Kamya held a meeting with the Usafi vendors who complained of shortage of customers, attributing it partly to street vendors. She assured them their complaints would be resolved within two weeks.

[email protected]