By Innocent Anguyo & Vivian Agaba

Time is up for owners of commuter omnibuses (taxis) operating in the city without formal registration with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

KCCA spokesperson Peter Kaujju said all non-registered taxis will be impounded in operations that begin today.

The operations follow the elapse of the new deadline issued by KCCA for the taxis to have registered by Tuesday.

The first deadline was extended from September 30 following a meeting between KCCA and taxi operators. The meeting was held on Friday, October 19, at Lugogo grounds, with stakeholders agreeing to give the operators up to Tuesday.

However, several taxi drivers and operators who attended the meeting on Tuesday vowed not to submit data of their vehicles before establishing the purpose of the registration.

Kaujju said the exercise was aimed at establishing the actual number of commuter taxis operating in the city for record purposes. He said it will will also enable KCCA to improve on tax collection from commuter taxis and help KCCA to plan for taxi parks.

“Many taxis evade taxes. We want them to pay their fees.This can easily be done if we have clear records,” Kaujju said in an interview yesterday.

But some operators castigated KCCA for poor sensitisation about the exercise, saying they should be given more time to register.

“If they want us to register, they should give us more time to register our taxis,” said Joseph Katongole, a taxi owner.

Kampala Metropolitan Police traffic commander Lawrence Niwabiine said the Police will subdue any form of resistance from the drivers and taxi operators.