Boda Boda and Taxis to be reduced in Kampala as Lukwago opposes move

Boda Boda and Taxis to be reduced in Kampala as Lukwago opposes . Whisper Eye Reports

Kampala Minister Betty Amongi and government officials are planning to reduce taxis and Boda bodas in Kampala City.

Reliable source has told Whisper Eye that a plan to reduce taxis and Boda Boda in Kampala is about to be announced by Government any time soon.

However Kampala Lord Mayor Hajji Ssalongo Erias Lukwago and his team oppose it saying its rushed and not good given the dire situation.

The Lord Mayor Lukwago asked Kampala Minister Amongi to plan together

Lord Mayor together with the City Executive Cabinet yesterday morning declined the invitation by the Minister for Kampala regarding the Cabinet Information Paper regulating the operations of taxis and boda bodas in Kampala.

This move pushes for a Presidential directive without consulting the different tiers of leadership in the City.

In the detail, after lifting the lockdown, boda bodas will continue operating by carrying cargo ONLY and abiding by the curfew time as they formalise their membership with registered digital companies like Safe Boda, Uber, Bolt, Taxify among others in the next 21days.

The taxis will use the next 42 days to undergo a verification process with the Transport Licencing Board on top of a mandatory inspection every six months.

Plus payment of mandatory KCCA fees. After the lockdown.

Taxis will remain banned for 28days and in the first 42days, they will acquire a route chart from the Transport Licencing Board before being allocated stages.

According to the KCCA Act 2010 as amended, the Lord Mayor is supposed to initiate strategies and programmes for the development of the Capital and he had moved to formulate an Ordinance to regulate operations of Taxis and Boda Bodas in the City by the time the Act was amended.

It should be recalled that on March 27, 2020, the Minister called off all Meetings and leaders cannot sit to exercise their mandate.

‘This is a time to concentrate on post COVID-19 socioeconomic recovery strategies as opposed to such draconian measures,’ says Lord
Mayor Lukwago.

He asked the Ministers to avoid covert moves, embrace bottom-top collegial leadership and push for policies that resonate well with the groups particularly boda boda and taxis leaderships which they intend to serve.

“Unfortunately, all these groups are currently in disarray making it hard for them to be consulted.” The Lord Mayor said.

“We don’t have a social security strategy to sustain the number of heads that survive on a single matatu/taxi.” He added.

Mr Lukwago is against the culture of implementing without stakeholder involvement.

Improper planning has cost the institution colossal sums of money citing the clock tower water spring and Fairway roundabout that were demolished after injecting in a lot of money.