The Uganda Transport Operators Federation (UTOF) has suspended a taxi drivers’ strike after meeting with the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi. The strike was scheduled to begin on Monday, April 29, 2024, in protest of high fees charged by municipalities and town council authorities outside Kampala city, despite President Yoweri Museveni’s recent directive to suspend the charges.
During a media interview held on Monday, April 29, 2024, Minister Magyezi said that he wrote to the Solicitor General to obtain legal guidance on the taxes charged on taxis, buses, and Costas by town councils and municipalities in addition to the annual tax.
Taxi and bus drivers, as well as Costas operators, who had organized the strike, suspended it after a meeting between Minister Magyezi and taxi operators’ leaders, who agreed to address their issues and advised them to continue negotiating because his office is ready to settle them.
Magyezi further said that his ministry is in consultation with the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Kampala Metropolitan Affairs to find a suitable solution for them.
Rashid Ssekindi, the Chairperson of UTOF, noted that they postponed the strike to avoid disturbing businesses in the country after the recent traders’ strike, which lasted a week with shops closed in the capital city, hence damaging traders’ income.
He thanked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for enabling negotiations between taxi organizations and the Ministry of Local Government.
He, however, noted that if negotiations with the government fail, they may return to their strike.
