Bus operations in Bushenyi halted over wrangles with taxi operators

Security operatives and local leaders in Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality, Bushenyi district have halted the operation of buses that have been staged in Ishaka town till June 29, 2023.

The suspension on Tuesday followed a petition by Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality taxi operators' leadership to the office of the Resident District Commissioner seeking intervention to stop the operation of buses that have allegedly pushed Taxi operators out of business. 

The bus companies accused of killing the taxi businesses, include TAUSI, Global, and Safaris. 

Transport paralysed

Transport business on Tuesday was paralysed when Taxi operators stopped their businesses and buses was also stopped from operating in Ishaka town during a demonstration until a meeting with security operatives and leaders at Leisure Park in Ishaka town. 

Bushenyi Taxi Operators’ Co-operatives Union chairperson Arthur Mucunguzi said buses that don’t have a park and a stage in Ishaka have pushed them out of business by taking passengers on the cheap leaving them in losses. 

“We have been operating freely with TAUSI when we allowed it only four buses to operate with us, but they have increased from four to 27 buses, which has encroached on our customers," he said.

"To make matters worse, Global which has been operating the Kampala-Mbarara route, has been given a route chart from Kampala to Mitooma district. We no longer have a business and we are seeking intervention,” Mucunguzi added. 

Arthur Mucunguzi chairman Bushenyi Taxi operators’ cooperatives union during the meeting in Ishaka town on tuesday

Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality National Resistance Movement party chairperson Muhammad Lukwago threatened to lead a demonstration of security and the local leaders don’t resolve the issue of buses operating in Ishaka. 

He asked the town clerk and the mayor to look for the gazetted area for the Buses to park and operate from if they allow them, but not staging along the road looking for passengers. 

While still speaking, drama and a scuffle ensued when he mentioned that the manager of TAUSI only identified as Alex was alleging that he was given a bribe by other leaders to stop the operations of TAUSI buses.  

Alex who emerged from the gathering moved to attack him, but Lukwago ordered Taxi operators to beat him up. However, Bushenyi RDC Robert Atuhairwe intervened. 

 Atuhairwe, who sided with taxi operators, said their grievances are valid because they are worried that buses park and fight for their passengers, leaving them out of business. 

“Nobody is going operate in Bushenyi without clearance from district and municipality authorities as per the regulations of government which guide how transport companies work. When you have a route chart from Kampala-Kashenshero, it means you are licensed to operate, drive through the route, you can stop somewhere and offload passengers but you don’t park where you don’t have a stage and load passengers,” he said. 

“We are going to meet with bus operators to get them to understand what their route charts mean according to the transport regulations, we know who is allowed to park in Bushenyi-Ishaka or not allowed and we are going to enforce this. 

I have given an order to the Police to be monitoring the situation of bus companies which are not licensed to stage in Bushenyi-Ishaka,” Atuhairwe added.