Most of the public transport users in Kampala Metropolitan area have been left stranded as only few registered number of commuter taxis are allowed to operate.
Government allowed resumption of public transport on June 4th after two months of partial coronavirus lockdown in selected districts which are not nearing Uganda borders.
Public Service vehicles like buses and taxis were permitted to resume work but under strict conditions provided they are registered and assigned route charts. Registered vehicles are allowed to carry only half of passenger capacity, drivers and conductors plus their passengers are ordered to wear face masks and use sanitizer while traveling.
With such set government restrictions, few taxis were allowed to operate on the roads which left a sea of passengers who had moved to Kampala city central business stranded on the roadside.
Only a handful of taxis plied the various city routes and in the suburbs of Bukoto, Kawempe, Bwaise, Ntinda,Wandegeya and Kamwokya.
When contacted Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick Onyango on the issue of Kampala City transport distress, revealed that as police were implementing directives and guidelines set by ministry of works and transport and government on Covid-19 public health measures.
“Any public vehicle which is not registered will not be allowed to operate because we don’t want to put lives of Ugandans at risk to avoid contraction of this deadly coronavirus disease ” he said.
Mr.Onyango added that police is working with Kampala Capital City Authority to make sure that they bring sanity in transport industry.
He also said that registration process of taxis will take some time which requires drivers to be patient.
On Thursday, taxis drivers who tried to disobey traffic rules arrested and their vehicles impounded.
By press time , Peter Kauju KCCA spokesperson could not be readily available to give a comment.
