Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has issued an ultimatum to taxi operators using vehicles in poor mechanical condition, ordering them to remove the cars from Kampala streets and roads by Monday.
Byamukama called on the Minister for Kampala, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Police to impound taxis found in a dangerous mechanical condition and have them taken off the roads.
“All these poor mechanical (ganyegenya) taxis shouldn’t be seen around Kampala. The Minister for Kampala with KCCA, we have got the park yard. When they get you, Police will impound you and keep your car. Now, we’re appealing to you, with effect from Monday, don’t bring back these ganyegenya cars in Kampala and the surrounding areas,” Byamukama said.
He explained that the operation has initially been launched in Kampala and the surrounding areas because the government has established that most of the poorly maintained taxis operate within the Greater Kampala area.
“We’ve started in Kampala and the surrounding areas for the first phase because we’ve seen that they’re common in Kampala. After, we shall advance to other areas of the country. We’ve made our studies that such type of cars are majorly within Kampala, Greater Kampala, Wakiso, Nakawa, Kakiiri, Katooke, Kawempe and even other areas as far as Busunju,” he added.
The minister further challenged taxi operators who believe their vehicles are mechanically sound to take them for inspection, warning that the government’s assessment has already exposed serious safety defects among the vehicles tested.
“If you’re proving government that your car is not in a poor mechanical condition, take it for inspection. It will not pass. We’ve tested about 30 cars voluntarily for the past 60 days but none passed,” he said.
Byamukama revealed that some of the vehicles have faulty or completely non-functional brakes, while others struggle to start, describing their continued operation on public roads as a serious risk to passengers and other road users.
“Some of these cars even the brakes are not working. For it to stop, they go onto a pavement for it to park. This is very risky and dangerous. Some are not even starting up,” he warned.
UPDATE – Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has given taxi owners and operators until Monday to remove vehicles in poor mechanical condition from the roads. The directive is part of a 100-day campaign starting in Greater Kampala to improve road safety. pic.twitter.com/fdJOq3Jqze
— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) August 20, 2026
