Kampala to ban taxis from picking up passengers outside designated stops

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is set to unveil a sweeping new transport plan that will ban all taxis from picking up and dropping off passengers outside designated gazetted stops.

The move is expected to significantly change how Kampala’s popular 14-seater omnibuses operate. Currently, the taxis, which are the most common means of public transport in Uganda, pick up and drop off passengers at virtually any point along the road, contributing to traffic congestion and disorder in the city.

Under the new measures, taxis will only be allowed to operate within designated parks and official stages. Roadside pick-ups, commonly known as illegal stages, will no longer be permitted.

KCCA spokesperson Mr. Daniel Nuwabine said the initiative is aimed at restoring order, improving urban mobility, and addressing persistent traffic congestion in the capital.

The business of having illegal stages is to end, and all taxis must operate within the parks, and not along the road. We are working with the leadership of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation to ensure these people get back to their designated places. For instance, all taxis plying the Entebbe Road must go into Usafi Park, and we are already in the process of enforcing that.

He added that while some operators may feel excluded by the changes, the city has limited capacity.

Some may complain about being left out, but the city is not elastic and we will not expect Kampala to swell. There is a specific number of taxi operators that the city can accommodate, but whatever that is, it should also be supplemented by mass transport.

Kampala has several recognised taxi parks where operators are expected to conduct their business. These include:

Old Taxi Park

New Taxi Park

Usafi Park (primarily for Entebbe Road taxis)

Namayiba Taxi Park

Kisenyi Taxi Park

If fully enforced, the reforms could redefine how thousands of daily commuters access taxi services across the capital.