Taxi Operators under their Umbrella organization Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF) have furiously attack the Minister of State for Transport Fred Byamukama for calling then a cocoon of people under mining development.
This follows the Minister’s statement he issued at Media Center almost two weeks ago concerning about the traffic new rules and policy guidelines for combining the rampant traffic crushes in the country.
The Minister in his address to reporters called the leaders of the Operators a cacoon of men hindering development and he hinted on government taking over the industry as an effort to streamline its operation.
He also announced stringent punishments of which some are in form of fines which the leaders of UTOF say are exorbitant and are intended to force them out of business.
In the new rule the fine punishments have been automated with modern technology were reckless drivers will be given fine receipts and they will be receiving messages on their phones via SMS.
Mustafa Mayambala the Vice Chairman said they where not consulted as players in the industry by the Ministry which contravenes the law.
” This is torturing Operators in the industry which we shall not accept because it’s intended to force us out of the business such that it’s given to a monopoly firm owned by a few individuals”. Mayambala said.
He further narrated that UTOF benchmark other countries in the region where traffic fines are lower compared to that of Uganda, for instance in Kenya they charge and Tanzania they charge 5,000 (UGX 103,000) and 40,000(UGX 65,000) but the traffic laws are adhered to well.
In Uganda government put the minimum fine for reckless driving at shs 200,000 which Mustafa says should be reviewed because it has not met its intended objective as traffic offences has not reduced.
Rashid Sekindi UTOF chairman said that exorbitant fine was just smuggled into the policy document by the Minister.
” To avoid havoc and unrest , we have petition the Minister for Transport to halt the signing of the policy such that we can also have an input as stake holders because such stringent punishments pinch us so much”. Sekindi said.
He however agreed with the Minister that there are very many motor vehicles that are in very dangerous mechanical conditions and shouldn’t be on the road carrying passengers and said will talk to the owners to voluntarily remove them before the long arm of government catches them.