Confusion reigns at Namayuba Park

By Brian Mayanja

IT is 7:00pm on Monday evening. It has been raining heavily for much of the day. I am heading home after a long day’s work. I go to the New Taxi Park, but there is no taxi in the park.

Later, I learn that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) relocated the taxi park to pave way for rehabilitation.
I go to the nearest bodaboda stage where I get directions to the new makeshift park on Namirembe Road. It is there that I hope to get a taxi to my home in Kasubi, a city suburb.

On my way, I meet taxi touts holding placards showing where the taxis heading to different destinations are parked.

When I asked one of them about the changes, he says the taxis that have been using the New Park were allocated to parks in Kisenyi, Namirembe and Namayuba.

He says the Kisenyi Park is located in Kisenyi, behind Owino Market on Kafumbe Mukasa Road.

Another taxi tout says the Namirembe Park is off Namirembe Road behind the Centenary Bank ATM.

“Most of the taxis here are headed to places on Masaka Road. The Namayumba Park is located off Kyaggwe Road behind Kisekka Market.You will also find taxis that operate on Hoima Road,” he noted.

Some taxi drivers have decided to operate on the streets, while others have relocated to the Old Taxi Park.

At the Total Petrol Station near the New Taxi Park, there are more taxis heading to Kibuye, Katwe and Najjanakumbi.

Often, taxi drivers engage in running battles with KCCA wardens chasing them off the streets. I meet a group of stranded passengers.

They have no idea where to find taxis to their destinations. Since KCCA relocated the taxi park, there is a lot of confusion and congestion in the city.

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A taxi tout using a public address speaker to call passengers at the new park in Kisenyi

In this confusion, crime, especially theft, has increased. “Thieves take advantage of the situation and steal valuables. The victims have nowhere to get help, since the nearest Police post is at the Old Taxi Park, which is miles away, he noted,” a bodaboda cyclist said.

About 40 minutes later, I finally get to the park in Kisenyi. It is a few kilometres from Kafumbe Mukasa Road.

The chaos starts right after the turn-off on Namirembe Road. The area is not paved. There are over 200 taxis and most of them park along the road.

There are always at least two taxis parked on either side of the road, usually off-loading passengers.

The pavements meant for pedestrians have been turned into mini markets. There are no security lights in the new park and sign posts to help passengers find cars at the different stages.

It takes me about 15 minutes to find a taxi. It was until I heard one of the conductors calling passengers verbally that I saw the Kasubi, Namugoona stage.

Some taxi touts have bought pubic address speakers to beckon passengers. I ask a conductor why they have not put up sign posts at the stage.

“It is KCCA’s role to put up sign posts. Since they disorganised us, they must help us,” he says.