Taxi drivers clash with law enforcers over Jinja city stage
The scuffle between the taxi operators, led by their chairperson, Sulaiman Mwanje, and law enforcers, took place on Wednesday in Jinja City.
Sulaiman Mwanje (L), Chairperson of the Kiyembe Stage C Drivers Association, addresses drivers after a meeting with the Jinja Resident City Commissioner (RCC) on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Jinja City. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)
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JINJA — Taxi drivers in Jinja under their association, Kampala Stage 'C' Drivers Association, have clashed with Jinja City law enforcers, who were evicting them from the Kiyembe taxi stage on Clive Road West, paralysing business for several hours.
The scuffle between the taxi operators, led by their chairperson, Sulaiman Mwanje, and law enforcers, took place on Wednesday in Jinja City.
This was after Jinja City Council issued directives banning all roadside stages in the city, ordering all taxis to load from the main Jinja Taxi Park.
However, taxi leaders at the Kiyembe stage refused to move, arguing that their stage is gazetted and legally recognised.
Jinja City law enforcement officers, accompanied by UPDF soldiers and police officers, arrive at Kiyembe C Stage in Jinja City before clashing with taxi drivers on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)
This is not the first clash; a similar physical fight broke out between the two groups last Wednesday.
The matter had previously been referred to the Jinja Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Salim Komakech, who had given the taxi drivers a two-week grace period to vacate. That deadline passed with the drivers still operating at the site.
A Kampala-bound taxi loads passengers at Kiyembe C Stage in Jinja City before a clash with Jinja City law enforcement officers on Wednesday. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)
On July 15, 2026, Sowaali turned up with Police, soldiers, and city law enforcers to evict the drivers.
Although the situation was tense, no violence occurred. The drivers' leadership rushed to the RCC's office to find a resolution.
Key agreements reached
Following the meeting, Kiyembe Stage Chairperson Mwanje announced that; “The RCC has granted the drivers 21 days (until August 13) to continue operating at the Kiyembe and Mbiko stages while they finalise plans on whether to stay permanently or relocate to the main park.”
Mwanje noted that the Kiyembe stage has existed for 40 years, and urged drivers to maintain peace and avoid disrupting city order.
Kasimu Vvumbe, the Mbiko stage chairperson, said they do not oppose the trade order, but will utilise the 21 days to organise themselves. He revealed that the Kiyembe and Mbiko stages have a total of 250 drivers.
RCC Komakech confirmed the peaceful resolution, emphasising that the trade order is a government directive that must ultimately be respected, but expressed optimism that the transition will be peaceful once the 21 days expire.
Following the meeting, the drivers moved the over 20 taxis they had parked in front of the RCC’s office and returned to their stages to resume work.