By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Tensions between Mbale City operators and City Council Authorities have reduced after the two held a reconciliatory meeting on Monday, 14th April, 2025.
The meeting, chaired by Masaba Muhamood Mutenyo, Industrial City Division Mayor, aimed to resolve the ongoing friction between city authorities and taxi drivers.
Among the resolutions passed is that Taxi Drivers on Tororo Road are to relocate to the Main Taxi Park.
It was also resolved that there should be a suspension of the ongoing impounding and arrests of drivers on the streets for two days by Mbale City. This suspension will remain in effect until the city relocates lorries currently occupying the Kumi Road Market taxi park, making space for taxis.
The city will also write to the Ministry of Transport, highlighting the insufficiency of the two existing taxi parks (Main Taxi Park and Kumi Road Taxi Park) to accommodate over 1,000 taxis in Mbale City.
The city’s operation to enforce order and impound taxis operating on streets led to conflicts with drivers. According to Asumin Nasike, Mbale Resident City Commissioner, the operation was initiated following a directive from the Ministry of Transport to maintain order in newly created cities.
However, locals and taxi drivers have resisted, citing lack of adequate parking spaces and selective enforcement.
Jolly Hasoho, the Mbale City Deputy Town Clerk says that during the recent operation, the Mbale taxi drivers harmed their enforcement officers and other staff of Mbale city which is uncalled for.
She says that they managed to impound some taxis but were later given back to their owners after the Mbale city RCC ordered for peace talks.
Siraj Masagazi, the public relations officer Mbale taxi drivers, conductors and owners association says that they have no problem with the City Council’s operation, but what made them to resist the operation was that they were not informed to leave streets before the operation.
He says the City should have first allocated them gazzetted Parks to relocate before carrying out the operation.
He adds that Mbale city Council is selective in implementing directives because they have left other transport sectors like Boda Boda, tricycles ( Tukutuku), buses among others operating in a disorderly manner.
