Drivers in Arua have protested against an increase in parking fees at the Arua Modern Taxi Park located in the central division. The protest, which began on September 10, 2024, was fueled by dissatisfaction with the hike in fees implemented by the Arua city council.
The fees were raised over the past one week, with charges for a five-seater vehicle going from UGX 3000 to UGX 4000, while vehicles carrying more than five passengers, including the drivers, were increased from UGX 5000 to UGX 7000. The drivers raised a concern that the fee hike was implemented without consultation or notification.
The Mayor of Central Division, Muzaidi Khemis, however, defended the fee increase, explaining that the new charges were part of a local revenue enhancement plan approved by the council.
“These policies were approved from the city center and even the central division after getting them from the Ministry of Trade. We just needed more community sensitization for them to be understood better,” the mayor said.
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The situation has drawn attention to broader issues of urban planning and traffic management in Arua, which has been facing challenges related to unregulated parking and congestion on its road.
The increase in the fees was necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the park facilities but has unfortunately faced resistance from drivers, with many of them protesting against the increased parking fees, indicating dissatisfaction with the new fee structure and its impact on their earnings.
