‘Ganyegenya’ operation leaves Kampala taxi stages unusually quiet

What the report says

Kampala’s taxi routes were unusually quiet as traffic police stepped up inspections of public service vehicles under the ongoing 100-day “Ganyegenya” operation, according to Nile Post. The report said fewer taxis were seen on major roads and at some taxi stages, including Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, Makerere-Wandegeya Road and Kampala Road, where boda bodas and roadworthy taxis filled some of the gaps.

Traffic police spokesperson Michael Kananura said the campaign is aimed at removing mechanically unsafe vehicles from the road, especially passenger carriers, amid rising concern about road accidents. He said inspectors are checking key safety and mechanical parts such as the body, tyres and seats, and warned that vehicles judged unsafe could be impounded and kept off the road until further inspection.

The article said police estimated that about 60% of the public service vehicles checked were in poor mechanical condition, which could lead to the operation being extended beyond the planned 100 days. Taxi operators interviewed for the story, including a driver at Nakawa stage, said the sudden enforcement had created financial strain and left some owners short of time to repair vehicles.

More broadly, the crackdown reflects ongoing efforts by Ugandan traffic police to improve road safety by removing unsafe passenger vehicles from circulation. The operation has also been extended to taxi parks as authorities look for mechanically dangerous vehicles beyond the main roads.