Police in Uganda Blocks Taxi Operators’ Meeting With Mayor Lukwago

Police on Friday blocked a consultative meeting called by Lord Mayor Eria Lukwago to discuss with taxi operators transport management in Kampala city.





 
                                Kampala City Mayor Erias Lukwago


Lukwago had called the taxi drivers and operators to meet at City Hall.
Lukwago said he had called the meeting in the aftermath of the High Court decision to stop Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) charging drivers and operators a monthly fee of 120,000 shillings. The court announced this ruling on Thursday.
The meeting was supposed to forge a way forward on how the taxi operators and KCCA would continue to work together.
In the meeting, the operators and KCCA officials would discuss the fees to be levied.
Police, however, sealed off entry into City Hall.
James Ruhweza, the DPC Central Police Station, who commanded the operation, was heard instructing the operators to disperse because the meeting had been called off. He advised the operators to return to their normal work.
Andrew Felix Kaweesi, the Kampala metropolitan police commander, in a letter addressed to Lukwago explained the move.
Kaweesi said that while it was Lukwago’s right to call such a meeting, police had the duty to ensure such a meeting did not pose a security risk to the public.
According to the letter dated 11 April this year, a copy of which URN has seen,  over 20,000 taxi operators had been invited to attend the meeting.
Kaweesi said such a gathering would affect business in the city centre.
In the letter, Kaweesi advised Lukwago to consider another venue for the meeting.
Addressing the press thereafter, Lukwago said he had called off the meeting.
He said he would instead invite 320 delegates to meet at his office. The delegates would include two drivers from each taxi stage in the city, two representatives of taxi owners, MP’s representing Kampala, the KCCA technical staff and political leaders.