Bus operators irked by low number of travellers

The number of passengers travelling by bus has reduced drastically and this has affected operational costs, operators have said.

They attribute the problem to low income since many businesses were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.
 
Yunus Kiggundu, the chairman of the United Bus Drivers Association (UBDA), said although under the current COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) the number of passengers in a bus was reduced by half, getting the few people to travel takes longer time.

Before COVID-19, buses used to carry about 60 passenger. However, due to the pandemic, buses are only able to carry 30 passengers, considering the SOPs announced by the President.

He said the weekly vendors' markets in various parts of the country where communities sell their products, cattle, and other items that are still under lockdown are the other constraints to passenger movement due to poverty.

Leo Bayagira, the proprietor of Global Coaches, said they cannot deploy the entire fleet due to limited passengers yet there are fixed expenses such as the operator licences among others.

Robert Mutebi, the secretary of United Bus Owners Association (UBOA), said business remains slow despite escalating operating costs. 

Taxes and vehicle maintenance costs 

"The annual operator licence for a bus was exorbitantly increased. The cost of tyres is very high yet the quality is low, the fuel pump price is also high," said Mutebi. 

Bus terminal managers have also experienced a reduction in the number of buses loaded per day.

Saturday Muhwezi, the operations manager of Kisenyi Bus Terminal, said passengers only travel when there is a serious need due to doubled transport fares. 

He said the limited movement of passengers has got a multiplier effect on companies that end up battling for passengers.