Government vehicles offer free transport as taxi operators go on strike
A Government vehicle helps stranded passengers in Kyengera trading centre along Masaka road. The site of Government vehicles offering transport today was so common. Photo by Joseph Kigundu
What you need to know:
However, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, promised to arrest all police officers who will fail to control the situation within their respective area of duty/coverage
A number of government vehicles were seen along the Masaka- Kampala highway offering free transport to stranded passengers as taxi operators go strike.
One of the drivers of the vehicle with a government registration number told Daily Monitor on conditions of anonymity that “government is there to help its people.”
“All these government vehicles were bought with tax payers’ money and that is why I am giving free transport to these people. I don’t think my boss will prosecute me for helping them” he said.
Mr. Male Mukasa, the spokesperson Kyengera stage appealed to the police to provide them with enough security, adding that they were not interested in the ongoing strike but fear for their lives from their colleagues who may seek retribution against them for failing to join the strike.
“Kyengera stage has over 100 taxis but Natete police has deployed only two police patrols which are not enough to cover the whole area. So, I ask the police to deploy more patrols and even arrest Mr Abdallah Kitata, the chairperson of the Bodaboda association, who spent the whole of last week announcing for the Taxi and Bodaboda strike which is hurting passengers” Said Mr Mukasa.
Mr. Abas Ssebaduka one of the Kyengera Taxi drivers on Kyengera - Nsangi stage separately told this reporter that his Taxi registration number UAS 743N was shattered and his tout (Conductor) injured by some of his striking colleagues at Wakaliga on its way to Kampala.
“When I reached at Wakaliga near Ivy’s Hotel a group of Boda boda riders came from nowhere shattered my front mirror the passenger who was seated in front with me sustained injuries from the broken mirror and my conductor beaten by the mob,” said Ssebaduka.
However, the SP Moses Muzima attached to Natete Police Station who was in charge of the two Police patrols in Natete, Mutundwe, Busega and Kyengera area said police had deployed heavily to arrest all the people who are promoting the strike.
However, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, promised to arrest all police officers who will fail to control the situation within their respective area of duty/coverage.
