Gov’t Orders ‘Ganyegenya’ Taxis Off Kampala Roads From Monday

KAMPALA — The government has ordered dangerously dilapidated commuter taxis, locally described as “ganyegenya,” off roads in Kampala and surrounding districts from Monday, escalating a months-long campaign against unroadworthy public service vehicles.

Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said police had been instructed to impound taxis found operating in dangerous mechanical condition, with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) providing space where seized vehicles will be kept.

“With effect from Monday, don’t bring back these ganyegenya cars in Kampala and surrounding areas,” Byamukama said.

The first phase will cover the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, including Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono, before enforcement is extended to other parts of the country.

Byamukama said inspections conducted over the past two months showed that vehicles voluntarily presented as examples of the ageing taxi fleet had failed roadworthiness tests.

“If you are proving to government your car is not ganyegenya, take it for inspection. It will not pass,” he said. “We have tested some voluntarily for the last 60 days, but none of them has passed.”

He said some vehicles had defective brakes, starting systems and other critical components, posing a danger to passengers and other road users.

“Some of these ganyegenya cars, even the brakes are not working,” Byamukama said, adding that some operators rely on makeshift measures to keep badly worn vehicles running.

The directive revives a crackdown announced in March, when the government gave owners of taxis in dangerous mechanical condition 20 days to repair them or withdraw them from service.

Taxi operators later asked for more time, citing the cost of repairs and the potential impact on livelihoods.

The enforcement comes amid renewed concern over Uganda’s road safety record following several deadly crashes involving public transport vehicles

Police have intensified operations against defective vehicles, dangerous loading and other violations on major highways in recent weeks.

Government investigations into recent crashes have also found widespread breaches of transport regulations, including mechanical defects, unlicensed public service vehicles and unaccredited drivers, according to officials who briefed Parliament in July. ⁠

Uganda’s public transport system remains dominated by 14-seater commuter taxis and motorcycles, with an estimated 15,000 taxis operating in the Kampala metropolitan area.

Byamukama said many of the vehicles targeted by the operation were taxis abandoned in garages after reaching the end of their useful life but later bought cheaply, fitted with tyres and returned to passenger service.

“These are cars which are worn out,” he said.

“The owners abandon them in garages, but our own Ugandans buy them from these garages at a very cheap cost. They just put tyres and bring them on the road.”

The crackdown could disrupt commuter transport from Monday if significant numbers of taxis are impounded, particularly on routes into central Kampala where minibuses remain a major form of public transport Ugandans have been urged to prepare for their journeys accordingly