Ibanda taxi operators warned over illegal vehicle modifications

What the report says

Taxi operators in Ibanda District have been cautioned against changing the appearance of public service vehicles in ways that go against licensing rules, according to Nile Post. The warning focuses on the removal or alteration of required features such as prescribed colours and checkered bands, which Traffic Police say help identify commuter taxis and distinguish them from other vehicles.

Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said the rules for public service vehicles are set by the Ministry of Works and Transport and enforced by police. He said some operators make extra changes after licensing, including adding stickers, photographs, decorations or other unauthorized markings. In his view, those alterations amount to a breach of the operator’s licence and illegal modification.

Kananura also indicated that a vehicle presented for licensing in a modified condition would not meet the ministry’s requirements. The warning comes as the Ministry of Works and Transport has directed police to step up inspections of commuter taxis, including those in dangerous mechanical condition, as part of a 100-day operation in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

For Ibanda operators, the message is that taxis should remain in the standard form required by law or face enforcement action during road checks. The broader context is Uganda’s ongoing push to improve road safety and compliance in public transport, especially where vehicle condition and identification markings are concerned.