Bus services scale down operations to Burundi
May 15, 2015
Since the chaos in Burundi begun late last month, bus operators scaled down their operations to the country for security reasons
By Cecilia Okoth
Since the chaos in Burundi begun late last month, bus operators scaled down their operations to the country for security reasons.
A random survey by the New Vision at several bus terminals in the city centre Thursday showed little or no operations at all.
At Namayiba Bus Terminal in Old Kampala, the offices of Burundi's official bus company (Otraco express bus services) were closed.
Meshach Kalema, the manager of Trinity express operators' bus company also found at Namayiba said Otraco buses were driven back to Burundi over three weeks ago. He said because of the instability, his buses only reach Kigali.
Ismail Dusabe, a booking agent at Trinity express said he sent back 20 customers on Tuesday who wanted to travel to Bujumbura.
"They stopped buses from entering Bujumbura because the borders are closed," Dusabe said.
A top Burundian general, former intelligence Chief Godefroid Niyombare, launched what appears now to be a failed coup on Wednesday, capping weeks of violent protests against the president's controversial bid for a third term.
The general also ordered the closure of Bujumbura airport and the landlocked nation's borders.
At Jaguar executive coaches in Bakuli, Annette Kim, one of the managers said though their buses still travel to Bujumbura, they had registered very few passengers in the past two weeks.
"Most passengers that use our buses are businessmen and women who come to and from Kampala for various transactions," Kim said.
By press time, a booking agent New Vision spoke to said he had not yet registered any customers going to Bujumbura.
A visit to Gaagaa coaches at Arua Park also revealed no activity at the Kigali, Bujumbura booking office.
Julius Baka, a conductor said their business has been affected because they had since stopped travelling to Bujumbura three weeks ago.
"We used to transport over 20 passengers a day, to Bujumbura before the chaos begun," Baka said, adding that a passenger is charged Sh55, 000 from Kampala to Bujumbura.