Bus fares up
Dec 19, 2003
BUS operators yesterday hiked transport fares ahead of the Christmas holiday. By yesterday afternoon, bus operators were charging at least sh2,000 above the usual amount
By Richard Komakech
BUS operators yesterday hiked transport fares ahead of the Christmas holiday.
By yesterday afternoon, bus operators were charging at least sh2,000 above the usual amount.
The chairman of Uganda Bus Operators Association, Charles Muhangi, said the increase was an annual trend, with more passengers travelling upcountry.
“It is a peak season with many people going for their Christmas holidays, and fares always increase by 10-20%,†Muhangi told The New Vision on phone yesterday.
At Arua Park, Nile Coaches, serving the West Nile route, had increased the fare to Arua from Sh20,000 to sh22,000 and to Moyo from sh18,000 to sh20,000.
On the same route, Gulu fare had been hiked by sh2,000 from sh11,000, according to Otada Coaches and ANKK transporters. Lira and Soroti was costing sh15,000, up from sh12,000. Mbale fare also shot up from sh8,000 to sh10,000.
Fares to Mbarara also shot up from sh8,000 to sh10,000. Kabale was at sh15,000 and Kisoro at sh20,000. Fort Portal was at sh15,000.
Asked whether the increase was also connected to the recent announcement by Police Inspector General of Police that buses on long routes should not make return journeys, most transporters simply said they were complying with the order. Muhangi said the prices would normalise in January when the long holiday ends.
Meanwhile, taxi fares for both town and upcountry journeys will remain unchanged. The chairman of the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association, John Ndyomugenyi, said they had cautioned taxi operators against hiking fares.
“However, we have heard that some drivers have increased the fare and we have sent our officers to investigate this. We are already monitoring this at our 120 taxi stages,†Ndyomugenyi said.
BUS operators yesterday hiked transport fares ahead of the Christmas holiday.
By yesterday afternoon, bus operators were charging at least sh2,000 above the usual amount.
The chairman of Uganda Bus Operators Association, Charles Muhangi, said the increase was an annual trend, with more passengers travelling upcountry.
“It is a peak season with many people going for their Christmas holidays, and fares always increase by 10-20%,†Muhangi told The New Vision on phone yesterday.
At Arua Park, Nile Coaches, serving the West Nile route, had increased the fare to Arua from Sh20,000 to sh22,000 and to Moyo from sh18,000 to sh20,000.
On the same route, Gulu fare had been hiked by sh2,000 from sh11,000, according to Otada Coaches and ANKK transporters. Lira and Soroti was costing sh15,000, up from sh12,000. Mbale fare also shot up from sh8,000 to sh10,000.
Fares to Mbarara also shot up from sh8,000 to sh10,000. Kabale was at sh15,000 and Kisoro at sh20,000. Fort Portal was at sh15,000.
Asked whether the increase was also connected to the recent announcement by Police Inspector General of Police that buses on long routes should not make return journeys, most transporters simply said they were complying with the order. Muhangi said the prices would normalise in January when the long holiday ends.
Meanwhile, taxi fares for both town and upcountry journeys will remain unchanged. The chairman of the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association, John Ndyomugenyi, said they had cautioned taxi operators against hiking fares.
“However, we have heard that some drivers have increased the fare and we have sent our officers to investigate this. We are already monitoring this at our 120 taxi stages,†Ndyomugenyi said.