Minister orders 100-day crackdown on ramshackle taxis in Kampala

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a 100-day enforcement drive aimed at removing taxis in dangerous mechanical condition from the Kampala Metropolitan area, according to The Independent Uganda. Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the first phase will focus on dilapidated 14-seater commuter taxis that he said are putting passengers and other road users at risk.

The article says the crackdown will begin on Monday in Greater Kampala, where such vehicles are reportedly most common, before expanding to the rest of the country. Police have been directed to impound taxis found to be unsafe, and the Kampala Capital City Authority has set aside parking space in Nakawa for seized vehicles. Byamukama said owners would not be allowed to reclaim them, framing the operation as a firm response after earlier attempts to remove unroadworthy taxis were challenged by industry threats of strikes.

The minister described vehicles with torn interiors, faulty doors, rope-tied parts and worn tyres as examples of the problem. He also said some of the vehicles are linked to highway robberies and are often sold from garages to desperate buyers despite their condition.

A taxi park leader quoted in the report welcomed the move but questioned whether enforcement would be consistent, saying bribery has often allowed unsafe taxis to keep operating. The crackdown comes alongside wider road safety checks, including inspection-certificate enforcement, overloading controls and spot checks at taxi parks and highway entry points.