Hundreds of passengers stranded as taxi crackdown bites

What the report says

Hundreds of commuters were stranded across the Kampala metropolitan area on Monday after traffic police began impounding commuter taxis found to be in dangerous mechanical condition. According to The Independent Uganda, the operation started around 6:00 a.m. and focused on the old 14-seater taxis commonly called “gganyegenya” in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts.

Police deployed at major roads and checkpoints including Gayaza Road, Jinja Road, the Northern Bypass at Busega, Namugongo, Kawempe and Hoima Road. At Rubigi Police Station on Hoima Road, officers reportedly impounded at least 40 taxis on routes such as Kakiri, Nansana-Gganda and Nansana-Nabweru. Passengers were told to get off and seek other transport, while the vehicles were towed to the Nakawa parking yard designated for impounded vehicles.

The crackdown follows a directive announced last week by State Minister for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama, who said the aim is to remove unsafe and poorly maintained taxis from the road. The minister cited concerns about worn-out vehicles putting passengers and other road users at risk, while also linking some older taxis to criminal misuse. Taxi operators and passengers affected by the enforcement described delays and losses, with some drivers saying they had been trying to earn income before being stopped.

The ministry and police have also been carrying out inspections on vehicles without valid certificates, overloaded vehicles and reckless driving as part of wider road-safety enforcement in the city region.