Mbarara city security committee bans illegal taxi stages

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara city security committee has ordered the closure of all illegal taxi and bus stages in the city. The directive comes in the wake of Tuesday twin bomb explosions in Kampala.

Some of the illegal stages include the Rwebikona-Ntake stage, Ahakatooma stage, and Post office stage, along the Independence park, University stage, and Shell Ankole among others.

James Mwesigye, the Mbarara Resident City Commissioner says that taxi and bus operators had started to load passengers from the non-gazetted areas which puts them at risk of being attacked by unknown people.

Mwesigye accuses the leadership of Mbarara taxi owners and operators of failing to comply with security directives.

Emmanuel Bwambale, the Mbarara city police commander tasked the management of the taxi and bus parks to enforce security measures which include checking passengers and their luggage at the entrance.

He says currently, police has inadequate manpower to deploy personnel in all parts of the city.

Godfrey Mbaine, the secretary of Finance Mbarara Taxi Park Union says that the space at the taxi park is inadequate to accommodate all taxis. He says they have written to the City clerk and the entire leadership of Mbarara city to expand the taxi park but all in vain.

The taxi park was constructed to accommodate 200 taxis but currently, there are over 800 taxis.

*****

URN