Following a surge in fatalities along the Kampala-Masaka highway, commuter taxi drivers, alongside their leaders and stakeholders, have introduced rigorous measures to combat road accidents.
Under the Federation of Uganda Taxi Operators (FUTO), they launched a self-regulation initiative. This campaign mandates the registration of all drivers and vehicles operating on the Masaka route, accompanied by new bylaws aimed at bolstering safety.
As part of this pilot project initiated in July 2022, vehicles now bear specific identifiers, restricting highway access to registered operators only. These regulations apply to 14-seater taxis and coasters traveling from Kampala to Greater Masaka.
The bylaws stipulate detailed marking schemes: vehicles heading to destinations like Masaka and Mbarara display a “1” with a yellow strip alongside the official blue mark. Stops such as Kayebwe are denoted by “2,” Mpigi by “3,” and so forth, up to “7” for those returning to Kampala from Masaka.
Mustapha Mayambala, vice chairman of UTOF in Kamengo, Mpigi district, highlighted that these measures aim to enhance safety across commuter taxi routes, responding to a previous report identifying taxi drivers as major contributors to accidents on Masaka road.
Rashid Ssekindi, UTOF chairman, noted a significant reduction in crashes since the initiative’s implementation, citing plans to extend the program to other major highways and routes.
Michael Kananura, community liaison officer, emphasized the collective responsibility for road safety, urging community cooperation and adherence to the Traffic and Road Safety Act.
Recent police reports indicated a 6% rise in fatalities nationwide from 2022 to 2023, underscoring the urgency of such initiatives in mitigating road accidents.
Chairmen like Kaleebu Mwanga and leaders at various stages expressed optimism that the Masaka initiative could serve as a model for reducing road carnage across Uganda.
