Bus operators hike transport costs
Dec 24, 2007
TAXI and bus fares more than doubled yesterday as passengers made last- minute upcountry journeys ahead of tomorrow’s Christmas festivities.
By Geresom Musamali
TAXI and bus fares more than doubled yesterday as passengers made last- minute upcountry journeys ahead of tomorrow’s Christmas festivities.
Bus fares to Bushenyi went up to sh40,000 from sh25,000, Mbarara went up to sh35,000 from sh20,000, while Lira fares were hiked from sh15,000 to sh30,000.
Taxis to Mbale, Busia and Masindi were charging sh20,000, up from sh12,000. It normally costs sh4,000 to Jinja in a 28-seater bus, but yesterday, the fare went up to sh8,000. The vehicles were taking longer to fill up, most people apparently having left last week.
Yasin Mugerwa, a driver on the Masindi route, said the hike was because most vehicles were based in Kampala and would have to drive back empty.
“We need to recover the costs of the return fuel,†said Mugerwa.
For the shorter routes, the fares had also slightly increased. Passengers were paying sh1,000 to Bweyogerere, up from sh800.
There were hardly any passengers to Makerere and Kyambogo university campuses because the students and staff are on recess.
The taxi and bus parks, Mukwano Arcade and the crafts market opposite the Railway station were among the busiest centres in the city.
Elsewhere, Kampala’s streets were deserted. The usual jam at the Jinja Road intersection had also reduced.
TAXI and bus fares more than doubled yesterday as passengers made last- minute upcountry journeys ahead of tomorrow’s Christmas festivities.
Bus fares to Bushenyi went up to sh40,000 from sh25,000, Mbarara went up to sh35,000 from sh20,000, while Lira fares were hiked from sh15,000 to sh30,000.
Taxis to Mbale, Busia and Masindi were charging sh20,000, up from sh12,000. It normally costs sh4,000 to Jinja in a 28-seater bus, but yesterday, the fare went up to sh8,000. The vehicles were taking longer to fill up, most people apparently having left last week.
Yasin Mugerwa, a driver on the Masindi route, said the hike was because most vehicles were based in Kampala and would have to drive back empty.
“We need to recover the costs of the return fuel,†said Mugerwa.
For the shorter routes, the fares had also slightly increased. Passengers were paying sh1,000 to Bweyogerere, up from sh800.
There were hardly any passengers to Makerere and Kyambogo university campuses because the students and staff are on recess.
The taxi and bus parks, Mukwano Arcade and the crafts market opposite the Railway station were among the busiest centres in the city.
Elsewhere, Kampala’s streets were deserted. The usual jam at the Jinja Road intersection had also reduced.