FDC proposes light rail transport system to reduce traffic congestion

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The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has criticised the 100-day crackdown on taxis in dangerous mechanical condition (DMC) ordered by the Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, saying the directive is impulsive, will worsen transport costs, and ignores government’s own failure to fix roads and put in place a mass transport system.

To avert the crisis, the FDC proposed the urgent construction of a Light Rail Mass Transport System for the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area as a lasting solution to worsening traffic congestion, high transport costs, and the crisis of the dangerous taxis.

Addressing a press conference at FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala, on Monday (August 24, 2026), the party deputy president for northern Uganda, Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, said Kampala can no longer rely on the 14-seater taxis alone to move over 4 million people daily, adding that government must implement a mass transport system, which it promised Ugandans in 2006.

“Scarcity of taxis will raise fares. Whereas we agree that many taxis operating on Kampala’s roads are in poor condition (Ganyegenya) as the minister put it, and removing them is a good move, this action is impulsive in nature,” Fungaroo, who is also the Obongi county MP, said.

He added; “Removing a number of taxis from the roads without putting an adequate alternative transport system in place will create scarcity, and this scarcity will inevitably increase transport costs for the ordinary commuter. At a time when the cost of living is already high, with rising fuel prices, taxes and other costs paid by taxi operators, the additional cost will ultimately be passed on to the common person who depends on taxis every day."

The crackdown on taxis, which started today (August), follows a directive by Minister Byamukama to police to impound all taxis in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area found to be in dangerous mechanical condition — locally known as ‘Ganyegenya’.

Fungaroo said while FDC agrees that many taxis are in a poor condition and removing them is a good move, implementing it without alternatives will hurt ordinary Ugandans.

“You cannot fix 'Ganyegenya' taxis without fixing 'Ganyegenya' roads. Vehicles driven every day on roads that are themselves 'Ganyegenya' will definitely become 'Ganyegenya' themselves,” he noted.

 Where are the promised buses?

According to Fungaroo, the crackdown exposes a long history of broken promises in public transport. "In 2006, the Government endorsed a plan to introduce 400 large buses in Kampala, but they never came," he observed.

According to Fungaroo, the plan expired in 2023 with nothing implemented.  “Minister Byamukama should tell us what happened to this plan,” Fungaroo said.

Fungaroo emphasised that boda-bodas and taxis have filled the gap left by lack of buses and trains, leading to accidents, pollution and disorder.

“Every morning, Kampala is at a standstill. From Wakiso to Mukono, from Entebbe to Bweyogerere, citizens are stuck. The cost of this congestion is paid by the ordinary Ugandan,” he noted.

History

Ugandan entrepreneurs have also tried to fill the gap. Pioneer Easy Bus entered a pilot arrangement in 2007 and later rolled out in March 2012, becoming popular with commuters because of its fixed fares.

In 2010, Kampala Capital City Authority entered an agreement intended to expand the fleet to 522 buses, but this never happened. Instead, Pioneer Easy Bus faced financial challenges and its operations stopped.