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When your taxi ride becomes a risk
The Ganyegenya operation should be more than a temporary crackdown; it should be an opportunity to build a safer, more reliable public transport system in Uganda, writes Doreen Mutoni
Doreen Mutoni. (Courtesy)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Doreen Mutoni
For many Ugandans, particularly those living and working in Kampala, travelling by taxi is an essential part of everyday life. Every morning and evening, thousands of commuters board taxis, commonly known as Ganyegenya, to get to workplaces, schools, markets and homes.
However, behind this routine is an important concern about the safety and mechanical condition of the vehicles carrying passengers. This concern has gained renewed attention following the Ministry of Works and Transport’s 100-day operation, launched on August 24, to identify and remove public service vehicles operating in dangerous mechanical conditions. The operation is intended to protect passengers, drivers and other road users from preventable road accidents.
The concern is reinforced by figures released by the Uganda Police Force. By September 21, police had impounded 499 vehicles and inspected 369, of which only 42, representing 11.1 percent, passed the inspection, while 328, or 88.9 percent, failed. Police also reported that 130 vehicles were impounded within one week and that enforcement had been extended into the night following reports that some operators were attempting to avoid inspection. These figures raise serious questions about the condition of public transport vehicles in Uganda.
However, behind this routine is an important concern about the safety and mechanical condition of the vehicles carrying passengers. This concern has gained renewed attention following the Ministry of Works and Transport’s 100-day operation, launched on August 24, to identify and remove public service vehicles operating in dangerous mechanical conditions. The operation is intended to protect passengers, drivers and other road users from preventable road accidents.
The concern is reinforced by figures released by the Uganda Police Force. By September 21, police had impounded 499 vehicles and inspected 369, of which only 42, representing 11.1 percent, passed the inspection, while 328, or 88.9 percent, failed. Police also reported that 130 vehicles were impounded within one week and that enforcement had been extended into the night following reports that some operators were attempting to avoid inspection. These figures raise serious questions about the condition of public transport vehicles in Uganda.
Although passengers often prioritise affordable fares, availability and reaching their destinations quickly, safety should not be overlooked. Responsibility for ensuring road safety should therefore be shared among taxi owners, drivers, passengers, police and government authorities. Owners must maintain their vehicles, drivers should avoid operating unsafe vehicles, and passengers should report serious safety concerns.
The Ganyegenya operation should consequently be regarded as more than a temporary enforcement exercise; it should provide an opportunity to improve Uganda’s public transport system in the long term. Enforcement must be fair, consistent and transparent, and vehicles that fail inspection should only return to the road after the identified mechanical faults have been properly repaired and verified. At the same time, authorities should engage taxi operators and consider the economic challenges that may affect their ability to maintain vehicles regularly.
Ultimately, reaching a destination quickly or cheaply should never come at the expense of safety. Public transport is vital to Kampala’s economy and the daily lives of ordinary Ugandans, and every passenger who boards a taxi places their trust and safety in the hands of the operator. That trust must be respected through responsible vehicle maintenance, effective regulation and a shared commitment to safer public transport.
The writer is an MBA Student at Makerere University Business School, doreenmutoni57@gmail.com
The Ganyegenya operation should consequently be regarded as more than a temporary enforcement exercise; it should provide an opportunity to improve Uganda’s public transport system in the long term. Enforcement must be fair, consistent and transparent, and vehicles that fail inspection should only return to the road after the identified mechanical faults have been properly repaired and verified. At the same time, authorities should engage taxi operators and consider the economic challenges that may affect their ability to maintain vehicles regularly.
Ultimately, reaching a destination quickly or cheaply should never come at the expense of safety. Public transport is vital to Kampala’s economy and the daily lives of ordinary Ugandans, and every passenger who boards a taxi places their trust and safety in the hands of the operator. That trust must be respected through responsible vehicle maintenance, effective regulation and a shared commitment to safer public transport.
The writer is an MBA Student at Makerere University Business School, doreenmutoni57@gmail.com