9:56am: In the city suburb of Kyengera, 7kms on Masaka Road, fares have been raised from Shs 1,000 to 2,500 for a taxi while one needs to cough around Shs8, 000 for a boda to reach the city centre.
Private pickup trucks and lorries have been seen ferrying passengers to town in large numbers.
In Ndeeba, drivers of government vehicles also took the opportunity to make some money from stranded passengers.
In Ntinda, Traffic Police did not interrupt Saloon cars as they drove away with passengers to the city centre.
In Kyengera Taxi Park, despite the presence of heavily-armed police personnel, several drivers refused to work, saying they were not certain about the safety of their cars.
Kampala residents stranded during today’s sit-down strike (Photos: Kenneth Kazibwe and Michael Nteza)
A taxi registration number UAS 743S had its windscreen shattered by the mob on its way to Kampala in the wee hours of Monday.
The driver identified as Mulongo Wasswa told Chimp Corp Michael Nteza he will not return to work until the strike comes to an end.
ASP Moses Musiima who is in charge of police patrols in the city centre says all taxi drivers who are ready to work “should not be intimidated because police have deployed enough manpower to protect them while on duty.”
Meanwhile, the situation remains calm in the city as thousands trek to their workplaces and business areas.
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7:45am: Thousands of Kampala residents have been stranded Monday morning after public transport operators started a sit-down strike, Chimp Corps report.
Women walking to work on Monday
Taxi and boda boda operators last week threatened to protest what they termed as city authorities’ “highhandedness” and “oppressive policies” that have affected the smooth running of their businesses.
“All taxi drivers and boda boda operators will not work on Monday because of KCCA’s unfair policies imposed on us,” said Abdallah Kittata, chairperson of National Union of Drivers, Cyclists and Allied Workers.
Pressed to shed light on the ‘harsh’ policies, Kittata elaborated that KCCA imposed a shs3, 500 daily tax on each taxi not to mention the Shs120, 000 monthly charge.
“When you fail to pay this charge, officials from TAPSCOM, a company contracted by KCCA to collect taxes in the city, respond by handcuffing and arresting you,” said Kittata.
He further said, “so far 250 drivers are in jail because of these taxes.”
Government trucks were not enough to save the situation after taxi drivers’ sit-down strike
Passengers struggling to utilise services of a taxi in a Kampala suburb
In Ntinda, Bwaise, Namugongo, Makerere, Wandegeya and Entebbe road, large numbers of people were seen waking to their work places.
Others used bicycles to ride to the city centre.
“KCCA should expedite the process of introducing buses. Taxi drivers are holding us hostage at their wish. I have failed to see my patient at Mengo,” said Mweteise, a 32-year-old woman in Kiwatule.
Police warning
Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi last week warned all drivers participating in the strike against inconveniencing other road users.
“I advise all drivers that are going to demonstrate on Monday to keep at home because they will have no aim of staying in the city as others are doing their work.”
Kaweesi added that Police would put in place enough security to protect drivers and boda boda riders who choose not to participate in the protests.
Police have warned against hooliganism during the strike
“Awakula Enume Bus Company operated by UTODA wrote to us requesting for security of their vehicles that are going to be transporting people on Monday and I would like to assure them that nobody will interfere with their work,” Kaweesi added.
He pointed out that Police have already issued directives to all police commanders not to tolerate any hooliganism in the city.
“We as police have a Constitutional duty of protecting citizens with their property So on Monday, I don’t want to see any chaos caused by the drivers in any part of the city. Once it happens it will be a sign of the commanders’ failure to execute their duties,” added Kaweesi.
He advised the passengers to keep strong, assuring them that even if all stakeholders involved in the transport industry directly engage in the strike, government has very many vehicles that can be used to transport people at no cost.
He further warned Bus drivers especially those with no permanent stages against participating in this strike, saying they may end up losing road side space on which they operate by the time they return.
“I call upon those who are not to transport people on Monday not to park their vehicles on the roadside because we shall tow them away.”
Kaweesi later advised the Union leaders to continue engaging in dialogue with Kampala Capital City Authority if they are to improve the transport sector in Kampala.
Have you been affected by today’s public transport operators’ sit-down strike? Send your photos or views on WatsApp 0712609665 or email us on info@chimpreports.com.