Police arrest defiant taxi drivers

Mar 26, 2020

Mpigi police on Thursday morning mounted an operation aimed at implementing the president's directive where 10 private vehicles were impounded and their drivers arrested after they were got carrying more than three people.

CORONAVIRUS

The Police in Mpigi are holding a 11 drivers for defying a presidential directive stopping public transport in the country.

Katonga regional police publicist, Lydia Tumushabe, said nine commuter taxis, two buses and a number of private vehicles that were carrying more than three people were impounded.

President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday evening announced additional measures to avert the spread of COVID 19 pandemic in the country in which he put a ban on all public transport in the country including commuter taxis, buses, bodabodas. Private motor vehicles were directed not to carry more than three people.

Mpigi police on Thursday morning mounted an operation aimed at implementing the president's directive where 10 private vehicles were impounded and their drivers arrested after they were got carrying more than three people.

Transport along Masaka -Kampala road was difficult as people had to trek long distances to their destinations.

Vehicles which were impounded for violating the president's directive were packed at Mpigi Central Police station and passengers were told to find other means of how they can reach town.

Micheal Turyomurugyendo, a passenger who boarded a star link bus from Kanungu, district said he did not know about the directive and he asked the Police to be lenient and let them continue with their journey. " We traveled very late on Wednesday evening at around 7:00pm, the president's directive got us on the way, now I am wondering why the Police never allowed us to continue" Turyomurugyendo said.

Simon Kibirango, a resident of Kanungu district, said they boarded the Star link bus at 7:00pm on Wednesday evening and it developed a mechanic problem and thus they were delayed on the way, but were surprised when they were intercepted by the Police when they had just reached Mpigi at 8:00am on Thursday morning and their bus impounded.

"The president's directive found us on the way, why did the Police arrest us? We are now confused and don't know what to do now," Kibirango said.

Lydia Tumushabe, the Katonga regional police publicist said the drivers arrested are currently detained at Mpigi police station and they have been charged with disobedience of lawful orders.

Additional reporting by Flavia Nakimera

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