Uganda taxi drivers and conductors to go on demonstration
By Nangayi Guyson – Uganda Public transport taxi drivers and conductors have announced a countrywide demonstration protesting what they called Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (Utoda)’s continued harassment of drivers and charging of exorbitant illegal loading and welfare fees.
Photo By Nangayi Guyson
“We have decided to park our vehicles at home come Monday to show dissatisfaction over what Utoda is doing. They are forcefully and illegally collecting exaggerated welfare dues from us and harassing our drivers to the extent of beating them up like young children,” the DACCA chairperson, Mr Mustafa Mayambala flanked by taxi drivers and conductors said.
He said Utoda collects un-receipted fees whose accountability cannot be traced anywhere and yet the tax parks are in a sorry state.
The drivers under their umbrella organisation, the Drivers and Conductors association (DACCA) while addressing the media in Kampala yesterday said beginning Monday, July 11, they shall park their vehicles at home until the government prevails over Utoda.
Apart from transport taxi drivers and conductors’ strike, Traders’ strike had entered day-two of their strike protesting the high taxes, the depreciating Shilling against the US Dollar and high licensing fees.
Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde is to present a ministerial statement to Parliament about the Government’s intervention to solve the problem. She has appealed to traders to end the strike.
Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) spokesperson Issa Sekitto has said that traders will have a meeting to forge a forward. “We called for a two-day sit down strike which we have effectively attained. We believe that our intention has been attained. Whether the strike continues or ends, or are the issues we shall discuss in meeting,” he said.
However, Monday’s taxi drivers and conductors’ strike is likely to paralyze the transport sector in the country as most of Ugandans use public means to get to their workplaces.
