Uganda's Ministry of Works and Transport Cracks Down on Dilapidated Taxis

• The Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a 100-day crackdown on dilapidated commuter taxis in Kampala.
• The operation targets dilapidated 14-seater taxis that pose a significant risk to road users' safety.
• Previous efforts to get rid of these vehicles have been unsuccessful due to threats from operators to strike or vote out the government.
• The government has vowed not to tolerate such behavior and warned owners who fail to comply will face consequences.

These taxis are beyond repair. You find them loading people, but when you enter, the seats are torn smelling. Some are tied with superglue. The conductor is holding the door with superglue, the doors cannot lock, and the driver is using a steering wheel tied with ropes.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a 100-day crackdown to remove unroadworthy commuter taxis from the roads in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. The operation will specifically target dilapidated 14-seater taxis that pose a significant risk to road users' safety. According to Minister Fred Byamukama, previous efforts to get rid of these vehicles have been unsuccessful due to threats from operators to strike or vote out the government. However, this time around, the minister has vowed not to tolerate such behavior and warned that owners who fail to comply will face the consequences.

The crackdown is part of a broader effort by the government to enhance road safety in Uganda. The operation comes as traffic police and the Works Ministry intensify enforcement across the country, including impounding vehicles without valid inspection certificates, cracking down on overloading and reckless driving, and conducting mechanical spot checks at major taxi parks and highway entry points. The government has also highlighted concerns about the use of worn-out taxis to rob people on highways, with owners abandoning these vehicles in garages and mechanics selling them to desperate individuals who disregard road safety regulations.

The crackdown may prompt lawyers to advise clients operating in the transportation sector to review their vehicle maintenance and inspection procedures, as well as compliance with regulatory requirements for roadworthiness and passenger safety. The operation also raises questions about corruption within the traffic police force, with some officers allegedly collecting bribes from drivers of worn-out taxis. As the government seeks to restore order in the taxi industry, it remains to be seen how effective this crackdown will be in improving road safety in Kampala and beyond.

This development may prompt lawyers to advise clients operating in the transportation sector to review their vehicle maintenance and inspection procedures, as well as compliance with regulatory requirements for roadworthiness and passenger safety.

Source: Original reporting via Independent (Kampala)