Masindi drivers hike transport fares
Sep 13, 2011
TRAVELLERS on the Hoima-Masindi route have to pay a higher fee after taxi operators hiked the fares citing the poor state of the road.
By Robert Atuhairwe
TRAVELLERS on the Hoima-Masindi route have to pay a higher fee after taxi operators hiked the fares citing the poor state of the road.
The drivers plying the road are said to have been sh5,000 in July, but had increased to sh12,000.
Drivers who spoke to New Vision on Friday said they were using more fuel because of the bad road.
They also talked of more repairs and servicing costs and replacement of tyres.
Angello Dradema, a taxi driver, said two bridges had collapsed due to the heavy rains in the area.
He said they had to abandon the usual route and divert to another road which was 5km longer.
Further reports indicate that by Friday, culverts at Musoma and Kacukura bridges had broken down, rendering the route impassable.
Julius Mbabazi, a trader at Bujenje trading centre, said they carry merchandise on their heads on and off vehicles and then reloaded it on trucks at convenient points.
He said they had also increased prices of food items including matooke and sugar which they transport from Masindi using the bad road.
Hamada Mugisa, a driver, said they now demand that passengers pay before embarking on the journey as some of them do not want to pay the amount due for the journey.
TRAVELLERS on the Hoima-Masindi route have to pay a higher fee after taxi operators hiked the fares citing the poor state of the road.
The drivers plying the road are said to have been sh5,000 in July, but had increased to sh12,000.
Drivers who spoke to New Vision on Friday said they were using more fuel because of the bad road.
They also talked of more repairs and servicing costs and replacement of tyres.
Angello Dradema, a taxi driver, said two bridges had collapsed due to the heavy rains in the area.
He said they had to abandon the usual route and divert to another road which was 5km longer.
Further reports indicate that by Friday, culverts at Musoma and Kacukura bridges had broken down, rendering the route impassable.
Julius Mbabazi, a trader at Bujenje trading centre, said they carry merchandise on their heads on and off vehicles and then reloaded it on trucks at convenient points.
He said they had also increased prices of food items including matooke and sugar which they transport from Masindi using the bad road.
Hamada Mugisa, a driver, said they now demand that passengers pay before embarking on the journey as some of them do not want to pay the amount due for the journey.