The Government has officially launched a 100-day operation targeting commuter taxis operating in Dangerous Mechanical Condition (DMC) across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
The operation began Monday, August 24, following a directive by the Ministry of Works and Transport to remove unsafe taxis from the city roads.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the operation is aimed at protecting passengers, drivers and other road users from vehicles that pose serious safety risks.
According to the Ministry, some of the targeted taxis have severely worn-out tyres, damaged seats, faulty doors, unsafe steering systems and other mechanical problems that make them unfit to carry passengers.
The Government has stressed that the operation is not a ban on taxi, but rather a crackdown on vehicles that have been assessed to be unsafe and beyond repair.
The Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF) has also urged taxi owners whose vehicles are in dangerous mechanical condition to park them rather than risk having them impounded.
However, taxi operators have raised concerns about the cost of replacing old vehicles. UTOF says the price of a commuter taxi has risen significantly, with some vehicles now costing between shs80 million and shs100million, while daily earnings fall below shs100,000.
Operators have also pointed to rising fuel costs, traffic congestions and competition from boda bodas as some of the challenges affecting the taxi industry.
The Government maintains that road safety must come first and says the 100-day operation is intended to reduce road crashes and remove dangerous vehicle from public transport.
Passengers using taxis in Kampala and surrounding areas should expect increased inspections during the operation.
Taxi operators are being encouraged to ensure their vehicles meet the required safety standards to avoid being stopped or impounded.
This has brought a lot of questions as to how the government will handle this without affecting the daily activities of its people.
