Taxi drivers clash with UTODA over receipt fees

Nov 02, 2011

Two taxi drivers were critically injured on Tuesday morning and nine people arrested by the Police, following clashes between a section of drivers and agents of the Uganda Taxi Drivers and Owners Association (UTODA).

By Taddeo Bwambale and Brian Mayanja
 
Two taxi drivers were critically injured on Tuesday morning and nine people arrested by the Police, following clashes between a section of drivers and agents of the Uganda Taxi Drivers and Owners Association (UTODA).
 
The drivers are protesting the collection of daily operational charges by UTODA, a day after its contract with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) was said to have ended.
 
At the Rift Valley Taxi Park near Clock Tower round-about, the police arrested seven men purporting to be UTODA agents who reportedly beat up a driver for refusing to pay the sh4,500 daily receipt fee.
 
The scuffle started at 7:00am, when a group of Kanyamas (musclemen) blocked drivers without the receipts from accessing the site, sparking a fight. 
 
Nicholas Mukasa, a driver at the Kabalagala-Kansanga route, sustained bruises on his face. He said the UTODA officials attacked him after he refused to show them a receipt to prove he had paid the fees.
 
Over 100 taxi drivers operate in the area measuring about half an acre. The drivers accused the Police of conniving with UTODA agents to harass them. They also accused the agents of demolishing stalls of food vendors operating nearby.
 
Anti-Riot Police deployed heavily to control the angry drivers. The police commander for Katwe, Apollo Kateeba denied the bias claims and said the police would investigate the matter. 
 
At the Cooper Complex Terminal near the Old Taxi Park, two UTODA agents were arrested after they reportedly beat up another driver for inciting colleagues to boycott payment of the receipt fee. Police deployed heavily in the area after drivers became rowdy.
 
There were also scuffles at the Namungoona and Nansana stages in the New Taxi Park, as well as Kafumbe Mukasa Road near the Old Taxi Park.
 
UTODA vice chairperson, Chris Sengooba disowned the group involved in beating up the drivers, describing it as a ‘gang of drunkards.’
 
“That group is not part of us. Our people wear uniforms and carry operational cards,” he said.
 
Last week, the High Court in Kampala temporary blocked KCCA from taking over management the New and Old taxi parks, following a dispute over UTODA’s contract. UTODA claims its contract will end in 2014 but KCCA says it ended two days ago. Hearing of the main case will be on December 5. 
 

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