Taxi drivers have announced that they will slightly increase transport fares ahead of the coming busy festive season to ensure better services to their customers and to also reduce accidents during this time.

The road traffic statistics of last year’s festive season revealed that close to 60 lives were lost between December 23, 2023 and January 1, 2024.

Muhammad Ssempijja, a leader in the Namayiba Taxi Park in downtown Kampala, told our reporter on Monday that the price increase would allow them to invest in better maintenance of their vehicles which would reduce the risk of accidents and ensure that their customers arrive at their destinations safely.

Ssempijja adds that since prices for other commodities are likely to increase, drivers also want to meet the demands of their families.

He however, challenged drivers not to overcharge customers because people are not doing well financially.

Meanwhile, Ssempijja has seconded the guidelines on road safety which were released by the Ministry of Works and Transport last week ahead of the festive season but advised Traffic Police to also keep a keen eye on drivers of small vehicles because lately they cause a lot of accidents during such seasons.

By Charles Katabalwa

9 Dec 2024

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