Bus Strike Disrupts Upcountry Travel

BY VISION REPORTERSOVER 140 buses plying various upcountry routes were grounded yesterday, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the Baganda Bus Park, Kampala.Fares were doubled, although officials denied this. Some passengers arrived at the park at 5:00am.The two-day old strike followed a Uganda Bus Operators Association (UBOA) park rate hike from sh10,000 to sh20,000. UBOA recently won a tender from Kampala City Council to run the park.UBOA-member owned buses are not affected by the strike. But those under the Associated Bus Operators Limited (ABOL), affected hundreds of upcountry travellers.Stranded passengers jammed Arua Park and the Baganda Bus Park. A mother with a baby bound for Kihihi via Rukungiri said, “It is frustrating. I don’t know whether I will travel. I may cancel the journey.” A businessman said he waited for the bus at Kawempe as usual only to find out that the buses were not working. Sam Segirinya, a UBOA official, said KCC gave them a five-year sh1b lease that will see them re-develop the bus park. UBOA is headed by rally ace Charles Muhangi.Companies under ABOL include Gateway, Nile Coaches, Jaguar, Otada and Swift Safaris. But Gateway buses to Kenya are working.Ends