City commuter taxi operators protest fees

Commuter Taxi drivers have taken to city roads in protest of KCCA monthly sh120,000 fees  levied on their vehicles.

The protest followed an early morning operation by the Police with KCCA in which several of them were impounded for defaulting.

 The angry drivers spread throughout the junction connecting roads to the CPS, Arua Park, Bombo road and Wilson street paralysing traffic flow for long.

The drivers argue that the fees were stopped by the President.

On July 22, 2017 President Yoweri Museveni wrote to the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda, directing that government should not make people pay a lot of taxes that could cripple them. He said the informal sector could pay only the annual licenses.

The letter, is also copied to the Vice-President, Finance minister, Local Government minister, minister for Kampala and Auditor General. He directed that such people should annual license fees as opposed to the daily dues. Museveni also suggested that taxi operators should also pay tax once a year.

"As far as taxis are concerned, it should again be one fee for an annual licence. Once you have that licence, you should operate without hindrance on the route for which, you were licensed for the whole year," the letter reads in part.

Museveni argued that excessive direct taxes are not correct. "Once these groups get some income, they will start spending and that is how the government will get taxes through consumption taxes," Museveni said.

Police commanded by Kampala CPS DPC Joseph Bakareke tried to disperse them.