Security tight in Kampala taxi parks

By Vision Reporter

Security remains tight for the second day after Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) took over the management of both Old and New taxi parks.

This after the High Court in Kampala dismissed a case filed by Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) on grounds that the case was erroneously filed.

When the New Vision visited the Taxi parks on Wednesday morning, there was heavy deployment of Police guarding at all entrances as KCCA officials were carrying on with issuing of receipts to drivers.
 

A Policeman tlalks to drivers. Photo by Mark Owor.

Kampala Metropolitan Police commander, Andrew Kawesi, said Police will be deployed to enable KCCA officials collect money from drivers in both Parks.

On Tuesday morning KCCA officials and the Police took charge of all the parks in the city centre and its suburbs.

Court ruled that technically, UTODA should have filed an ordinary suit to establish the validity of UTODA’s contract.

The Judge also ruled that UTODA did not clearly spell out its rights over the contract which allegedly expired on the 30 October when it dragged KCCA to court.

KCCA officials issuing receipts to drivers. Photo by Mark Owor

The case arose after the KCCA Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi, in her Memo October 18, 2011, said UTODA’s contract was expiring on October 31, 2011. She also revealed that KCCA would start managing the taxi parks from November 1, 2011.

"The case is beyond judicial review and hat is to be determined is whether they (UTODA) have a contract or not," The judge said.

Additionally, court also ruled that UTODA petitioned court, yet they had been invited for a meeting. Mwangushya stated that they were pre-empting the authority on what was to be discussed in the meeting.

In July, UTODA bosses snubbed a meeting with the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago who maintained that they had no running contract with KCCA.

UTODA also declined to produce a memorandum and articles of association, annual returns filed with the registrar of companies and the structure of taxi fares levied.

Court has also ordered UTODA to pay KCCA costs for case.  KCCA was represented by Caleb Mugisha, and Robert Kwanza While UTODA was represented by Abbas Bukenya.

UTODA has been managing the taxi parks since 1993 when it signed its first contract with the then Kampala City Council.

Its contract ended on October 31, 2010, but was extended to October 31, 2011. It was further extended for three years to October 31, 2014 by the then acting Town Clerk, David Naluwayiro, citing approval by the contracts committee.