Chaos erupted at the Bwaise taxi park as clashes broke out between the outgoing leadership and the newly appointed leadership scheduled to be sworn in on Monday morning. The conflict stemmed from dissatisfaction with the current park chairperson, Francis Nsobya Ssemakadde, who was accused of disregarding park regulations and involving non-taxi drivers in park operations.
In response to the complaints, Colonel Fred Bogere, a partner at Kalocen Investments, the park’s developer, appointed an interim committee of seven members to oversee the park. However, when the interim committee was set to be sworn in, supporters of Ssemakadde disrupted the ceremony, protesting against his removal.
The clashes prompted heavy police and military deployment to restore calm, leading to the arrest of four individuals, including Ssemakadde. The newly appointed park chairperson, Rajab Mukasa, highlighted the importance of unity and adherence to guidelines set by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to ensure a unified park structure and address the issue of parallel stages.
Mukasa urged opposing leaders to collaborate for the improvement of the taxi industry and foster solidarity among drivers. Meanwhile, Rashid Ssekindi, the chairperson of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation, emphasized that according to KCCA and UTOF guidelines, taxi drivers have the authority to elect their leaders. However, in the current situation in Bwaise, the developer imposed their choice of leadership.
Ssekindi stated that if the drivers accept the appointed leadership, the taxi body will acknowledge it. He called on drivers to remain calm to prevent recurring conflicts that might lead to the closure of the park by the developer.
Gerald Twishime, the Regional Police Commander Kampala Metropolitan North, reported 12 assault cases since the park’s inception, involving severe beatings of drivers. He assured that the police would prosecute all culprits in court and emphasized their commitment to ensuring security and prosecuting those involved in violent incidents, preventing the influence of non-taxi drivers in park affairs.
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