Taxi fares increase as holidays begin
Apr 24, 2008
TAXI drivers operating in and around the city centre hiked fares as schools broke off for holidays yesterday. This left scores of students stranded in Kampala's two taxi parks.
By Chris Kiwawulo
TAXI drivers operating in and around the city centre hiked fares as schools broke off for holidays yesterday. This left scores of students stranded in Kampala's two taxi parks.
The shortest distance in the city centre that costs sh300 was increased to sh500. Fares to the city outskirts also increased by between sh200 and sh500.
Travelling to Bweyogerere, Kawempe, Maganjo and Lugoba, which normally costs sh1,000, was at sh1,500.
The hike comes in the wake of increasing fuel prices, especially diesel.
Diesel now goes for sh2,480 from sh2,100 while petrol rose to sh2,560 from sh2,520. The diesel shortage poses a big problem to taxi drivers rely on it.
Although the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association chairman, John Ndyomugyenyi, appealed to the drivers not to hike fares, they kept a deaf ear.
“The demand for taxis is high yet they are few. This forces drivers to hike fares,†a UTODA warden said.
More schools are expected to break off today and this is likely to worsen the transport problem.
TAXI drivers operating in and around the city centre hiked fares as schools broke off for holidays yesterday. This left scores of students stranded in Kampala's two taxi parks.
The shortest distance in the city centre that costs sh300 was increased to sh500. Fares to the city outskirts also increased by between sh200 and sh500.
Travelling to Bweyogerere, Kawempe, Maganjo and Lugoba, which normally costs sh1,000, was at sh1,500.
The hike comes in the wake of increasing fuel prices, especially diesel.
Diesel now goes for sh2,480 from sh2,100 while petrol rose to sh2,560 from sh2,520. The diesel shortage poses a big problem to taxi drivers rely on it.
Although the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association chairman, John Ndyomugyenyi, appealed to the drivers not to hike fares, they kept a deaf ear.
“The demand for taxis is high yet they are few. This forces drivers to hike fares,†a UTODA warden said.
More schools are expected to break off today and this is likely to worsen the transport problem.