Mbarara taxi drivers clash over park management

By Fred Turyakira

Anti-riot Police have swung in action and fired teargas to disperse drivers from two factions who were armed with pangas and sticks fighting over Mbarara Taxi Park management.

The fight between the two factions of Mbarara United Taxi Operators Cooperative Society (MUTOCS) and Mbarara United Taxi owners, operators and Conductors Cooperative Society (MUTOCDCS) erupted after members from MUTOCDCS came with sticks to fight their counterpart, accusing them of overstaying in the management and causing financial loss to Mbarara Municipal council.

This paralyzed transport and passengers were left stranded as there were no taxis operating from Mbarara Taxi Park to their various destinations.
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 Police take control of Mbarara Taxi Park. PHOTO/ Fred Turyakira

About five people were injured and window screens of the vehicles smashed during the scuffle between the two factions.

Both parties accuse Mbarara Municipal council for failure to resolve the issue of park management after the office of inspectorate general of government (IGG) halted the award of tender to run and collect fees from the Taxi Park.

Sande Bukenya, the MUTOCDCS chairperson, said they were not satisfied with the conduct of MUTOCS members after they on Monday removed a metallic pole at the entrance of the park in demonstration of people who were collecting taxi park revenue.

Robert Beyagira, the MTOCS chairperson, said, they protested against agents brought by Mbarara Municipal council to collect park fees, saying they belonged to MUTOCDCS.

Beyagira also claimed that Bukenya’s group armed with sticks, Pangas, stones threatened to burn their office in the Taxi Park.

Rashid Mukasa, the Kakoba Division LC3 chairperson, said that both parties (MUTOCS and MUTOCDCS) applied for the contract to run the management of the park, however IGG halted the awarding of the tender following a petition from both parties that cited loophole in the awarding body.