Sekandi, a manager at Namayiba bus terminal, says that the amount of money has definitely increased, for example, a trip from Kampala to Gulu now costs between Shillings 160,000 and 170,000 from Shillings 40,000 previously. Kampala to Lira now costs between Shillings 100,000 and 150,000 from the normal fare of Shillings 40,000.
Hundreds of
people are still stuck in various bus and taxi parks in Kampala because of exorbitant
transport fares. The fares shot up on Monday following the new COVID-19 control
measures to contain the second wave, which has seen a surge in infections.
In addition
to closing schools, president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni also banned inter
district travel for the next 42 days in his Sunday evening address triggering
mass movement with several people choosing to travel upcountry fearing a major
lockdown.
As a result, there is panic in various bus and taxi parks as
people fight to secure means to travel upcountry. Apparently, the transport
fares to most up-country areas have more than doubled. Nelson Sekandi, a
manager at Namayiba bus terminal, says that the amount of money has definitely
increased, for example, a trip from Kampala to Gulu now costs between Shillings
160,000 and 170,000 from Shillings 40,000 previously.
Kampala to Lira now costs
between Shillings 100,000 and 150,000 from the normal fare of Shillings 40,000. Sekandi justifies the increment, saying that buses are
operating at half capacity since they are not allowed to carry full capacity so
as to comply with the SOPs.
However, it should be remembered that the operators
hiked the fares in March last year to meet the costs of operating at half
capacity. He downplayed the failure of many people to travel home, saying the
presence of the curfew limits the hours people access the park.
//Cue in “The issue of fares...”
Cue out “…. the buses are coming when they are empty.”//
Lea Agwang, who was waiting for a bus at Namayiba Bus Park,
said the park is congested at the moment. She the few available buses have
hiked their fares, making it difficult for many people to travel.
//Cue in “there’s a lot of congestion...”
Cue out…. increase on the payment as well.”//
The situation is not any different in the new taxi park in
Kampala as students and other travels continue flocking the park in a bid to
return to their homes.
Fred Naronde, Vice-chairman at Mbale costa stage in the new
taxi park, says that the vehicles are carrying a maximum of 15 to 20 people in
order to maintain the social distance.
He
says that they revised the fares from Shillings 20,000 to 50,000 from Kampala
to Mbale because the vehicles do not bring back any passengers on their way
back to Kampala.
Luganda byte
//Cue in “Abaana bawumudde...”
Cue out “…. kulwa social distancing, esitula abantu kuminabatano.”
Mark Zion, a passenger in the new taxi park, says currently one has to know a
taxi driver to secure a seat in a taxi.
//Cue in “people slept here…”
Cue out…the driver must know you in order to go on time”//
Namugga Dallen
Freelancer