Waragi banned in taxi parks
Oct 01, 2009
THE Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association (UTODA) has banned the selling, consumption and possession of waragi in sachets and other toxicants among taxi drivers.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
THE Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association (UTODA) has banned the selling, consumption and possession of waragi in sachets and other toxicants among taxi drivers.
UTODA, which manages taxi parks in Kampala, said the move was intended to reduce road accidents.
The Police recently said most accidents involved drivers under the influence of alcohol.
UTODA vice-chairman Chris Ssengooba on Tuesday told journalists in Kampala that the taxi body was making impromptu operations and snap checks on drivers arriving and leaving the taxi parks and at various stages.
He said several drivers had been netted with sachets of waragi and gin and packets of tobacco.
Ssengooba displayed some of the confiscated India-made gin, which he said was more toxic than waragi and affected the driver’s vision.
“Several of the culprits have been suspended from their stages and told to write apologies before they return for duty,†he explained.
Ssengooba disclosed that stage masters had been instructed to check drivers’ pockets and the vehicles to ensure they did not carry such sachets.
Vendors have also been banned from selling alcohol in the parks.
“We shall arrest any driver found drinking waragi or possessing it because they put the passengers’ lives at risk,†he said.
Meanwhile, the association has also set up a special office for faster and cheaper processing of driving permits.
Ssengooba said several drivers had failed to acquire the necessary documents, like driving permits, because of the bureaucracy at the processing offices in Kyambogo, Kampala.
Some drivers complained that the Police had rejected their permits, saying they were not genuine.
They said most of the rejected permits were acquired through brokers.
THE Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association (UTODA) has banned the selling, consumption and possession of waragi in sachets and other toxicants among taxi drivers.
UTODA, which manages taxi parks in Kampala, said the move was intended to reduce road accidents.
The Police recently said most accidents involved drivers under the influence of alcohol.
UTODA vice-chairman Chris Ssengooba on Tuesday told journalists in Kampala that the taxi body was making impromptu operations and snap checks on drivers arriving and leaving the taxi parks and at various stages.
He said several drivers had been netted with sachets of waragi and gin and packets of tobacco.
Ssengooba displayed some of the confiscated India-made gin, which he said was more toxic than waragi and affected the driver’s vision.
“Several of the culprits have been suspended from their stages and told to write apologies before they return for duty,†he explained.
Ssengooba disclosed that stage masters had been instructed to check drivers’ pockets and the vehicles to ensure they did not carry such sachets.
Vendors have also been banned from selling alcohol in the parks.
“We shall arrest any driver found drinking waragi or possessing it because they put the passengers’ lives at risk,†he said.
Meanwhile, the association has also set up a special office for faster and cheaper processing of driving permits.
Ssengooba said several drivers had failed to acquire the necessary documents, like driving permits, because of the bureaucracy at the processing offices in Kyambogo, Kampala.
Some drivers complained that the Police had rejected their permits, saying they were not genuine.
They said most of the rejected permits were acquired through brokers.