The Chairman of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF), Rashid Sekindi, has refuted circulating claims that the federation plans to phase out passenger taxis and replace them with buses as part of a new public transport system.
Speaking during a press briefing at UTOF headquarters in Kampala, Sekindi dismissed the allegations as “baseless, misleading and deliberately created to cause unnecessary panic” among drivers and the public.
Sekindi explained that some of those spreading the rumours are taxi drivers without passports, and thus ineligible for the Dubai benchmarking opportunity being organized by UTOF in partnership with Spiro.
The federation has been registering drivers with valid passports to prepare them for the trip.
“It’s completely false to say UTOF is taking taxi drivers to Dubai to negotiate the importation of buses,” Sekindi said.
“This is a study trip. We want our drivers to see how transport systems operate abroad and learn from best practices. Those spreading rumours are mostly people who do not have passports, yet the opportunity was open to everyone who qualified.”
He emphasized that the benchmarking visit, scheduled from 8th to 12th January 2026—just days before the general elections—is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Ugandan drivers, not replacing them.
“The Dubai trip is purely educational. We are not buying buses. We are simply equipping our drivers with exposure and experience,” Sekindi added.
He also noted that the buses currently operating in Uganda were not introduced by UTOF, further discrediting claims that the federation has an agenda to transform the entire public transport system.
Meanwhile, Faizo Lule Sebirumbi, chairman of Namayiba Taxi Park, called on drivers to exercise maximum caution as the festive season approaches, citing growing road risks from unlicensed and intoxicated drivers.
“We urge all drivers to be vigilant. Some people driving on these roads have no valid licences, while others are drunk,” Sebirumbi said.
“Please ensure you have all required permits. We also want to assure the public that taxi fares have not been increased.”
He further encouraged passengers to travel early to avoid unnecessary delays and congestion.
