Police blocks taxi drivers' meeting with minister

The police yesterday thwarted a meeting between taxi drivers and the minster for Public Service, Muruli Mukasa that was meant to iron out issues concerning taxes levied on the drivers by KCCA.

The meeting that was scheduled to start at 10.00 am at Old Kampala mosque conference room couldn’t take place after police closed off the premises barring all parties from accessing the venue.

The meeting was meant to discuss matters surrounding the said illegal taxes levied by both KCCA and other local governments.

Recently, President Museveni called for the abolition of monthly fees levied on taxis and suggested that they pay an annual fee agreed by them and KCCA.

Drivers then stopped paying this fee but KCCA insisted that they will continue collecting the monthly levy of Shs 120,000 until they agree on an annual fee.

Therefore the meeting had been called to break this impasse.

When the police stopped them from accessing the venue, taxi drivers under the leadership of Mustapha Mayambala and Gauda Mugisha managed to hold an impromptu meeting in the middle of Old Kampala road.

"No one is above the president in this country therefore his orders are always final. Now who is Jennifer Musisi and Betty Kamya to defy his orders?" Mayambala queried.

The drivers insisted that they will not pay any more taxes until Museveni instructs them to do so.

Currently taxi operators are required to pay Shs120, 000 monthly to KCCA, plus Shs 4, 000 to local governments neighbouring Kampala (Mukono and Wakiso) on a daily basis.

This is in addition to Shs 3,000 paid daily to Multiplex for city parking.

"That a lot of money for us to pay and it’s even worse for those that drive up country routes. One has to pay all local governments in the districts where the taxi makes a stop over," Mayambala said.

The operators are now set to meet President Museveni on November 14.