Bus owners have decided to suspend the sit down strike as they harmonize to iron out some of their issues after engaging with Ministry of Works and Transport, and other relevant authorities.
A decision by the bus owners to suspend their operations left several passengers wishing to travel to and from upcountry stranded at different bus terminals.
The sit down strike kicked off at around 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, over exorbitant user parking fee of Ugx2.4 Million per year for each bus.
The Chairperson of the Uganda Bus Owners Association (UBOA), Solomon Nsimiire said that, basing on the letter addressed to them, they called for a general meeting to prepare for the meeting with the Ministry of Works and Transport.
“In that general meeting, members resolved that we temporarily suspend our industrial action pending the discussions with government,” Nsimiire said.
Travelers will be able to move especially the boarding school children who are returning from school for their holidays.
The Minister of State for Works and Transport, Fred Byabakama said that, in order to end the standoff between Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the bus owners, his ministry called for a meeting on Friday, August 25, 2023, with Uganda Bus Owners Association (UBOA)
“If possible, they can even resume their duties before Friday because this issue has been on table and something which has come up by law, you don’t wake up and remove it. So we shall engage KCCA, Local Government, and Ministry of Works and Transport, we reach a consensus which can make these people resume work as we look for the everlasting solution,” Byabakama said.
The decision comes in anticipation of the meeting with the Ministry of Works and Transport which holds the promise of addressing the concerns raised by the bus operators. The aim of the meeting is to find a resolution that is mutually agreeable, ensuring a more sustainable and equitable arrangement for both the operators and the Kampala Capital City Authority.
KCCA is mandated to charge every individual operating a medium omnibus Ugx2.4 Million per year. The operators are also required to pay an annual government license fee of Ugx2.84 Million per bus which comprises of Ugx1.5 Million for passenger service vehicle and Ugx1.34 Million as Advance Income Tax to Uganda Revenue Authority.
