Passengers stranded as police impound DMC taxis

What the report says

Hundreds of commuters were left without transport across the Kampala metropolitan area on Monday after traffic police began impounding commuter taxis considered to be in dangerous mechanical condition. The operation started early in the morning and focused on aging 14-seater taxis, commonly called gganyegenya, on routes in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts.

According to The Observer, police officers were deployed on major roads including Gayaza Road, Jinja Road, the Northern Bypass at Busega, Namugongo, Kawempe and Hoima Road. At Rubigi Police Station on Hoima Road, police reportedly impounded at least 40 taxis serving routes such as Kakiri, Nansana-Gganda and Nansana-Nabweru. Passengers were told to get off and find other means of travel, while the seized vehicles were taken to the Nakawa parking yard designated by Kampala Capital City Authority.

The crackdown follows a directive announced the previous Thursday by State Minister for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama, who said the government wanted unsafe taxis removed from the roads. He said the target was vehicles with visible mechanical defects that could endanger passengers and other road users. The ministry and police have also been stepping up checks on vehicles without valid inspection certificates, overloading and reckless driving.

The operation disrupted the morning commute in places such as Gganda-Nansana, while some taxi operators said they were trying to balance repairs, compliance and the need to earn a living. The issue is significant because commuter taxis are a major form of public transport in the Kampala area, and the enforcement effort could affect both road safety and daily mobility.