In pictures: Taxis a no show as public transport resumes
Jun 04, 2020
In Kireka, some people reached the stage at 6.30am but couldn't see any taxi. Some waited on patiently while others resorted to walking to their destinations.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT HEALTH COVID-19
When President Yoweri Museveni lifted the ban on public transport, most people anticipated a smooth ride. They expected life to return to the normal they knew before the lockdown.
On Thursday, many Ugandans woke up expecting the old good days when transport was not a challenge. They thought they would easily flag down a taxi like before.
However, passengers, especially in Kampala, were left stranded. There were only a handful of taxis on the roads.
In Kireka, some people were waiting at the taxi stage as early as 6:30am but were in for a rude awakening. Some waited on patiently, while others resorted to walking to their destinations.
One gentleman, who only identified himself as Kagwa, said he had waited for a taxi for close to two hours. "The few taxis that drove by already had passengers. I expected to find many taxis on the road today, but by 8:00am, I had only counted seven," he said.
In the New Taxi Park, in the central business district, many passengers were stranded. Some could be seen with hands-on their cheeks as if wondering what to do next.
Sadly, even the taxis that were available were too expensive.
Passengers had to dig deep into their pockets to afford a ride. The fare for a ride from Kireka to Kampala was sh5,000, up from sh1,500 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most of these people remained stranded in the parks. There were no taxis in the parks because taxi operators were finalizing with registration a key requirement needed by KCCA.
Some people resorted to walking. They couldn't wait anymore. Some said they didn't care about the transport fare being high, all they wanted was a mean of transport.
Some people, who had hoped to use this opportunity to escape to their villages until the COVID-19 situation was under control were left stranded and disappointed.
