Taxi operators have threatened to strike over the Auto Express Penalty System (EPS) after they walked out of a meeting with Transport Ministry officials.
Led by the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, Winstone Katushabe, the Transport Ministry officials had met with the taxi operators to understand their concerns on the EPS and the traffic fines that Ugandans have been complaining about since the system was rolled out.
Since the EPS was rolled out days ago, motorists have been complaining about the heavy fines for traffic violations such as speed violation fine, fines for driving on stop lines or markings, fines for turns not under the sign, and fines for driving past red lights.
During the meeting with tax operators, Katushabe said that only Gen Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport has the powers to suspend the Auto Express Penalty System (EPS) system.
This angered the taxi operators who had hoped to convince ministry officials to suspend EPS.
Walking out of the meeting without any government commitment, the taxi operators threatened to go on strike and they rallied other motorists to join them.
Speaking to reporters after meeting taxi operators, Commissioner Katushabe praised the new Auto Express Penalty System (EPS) as a good move in efforts to reduce road crashes and their impact on the economy.
He also admitted that the implementation of the EPS had gaps that needed to be plugged but was he was clear in his disagreement with calls for the suspension of the express penalty system.
It should be remembered that a Russian company will take up to 80 per cent of the money from the traffic fines, as reported Here.
A strike by taxi operators would give Museveni’s government — which is currently dealing with an arts teachers’ strike — enough trouble to handle. (See Details Here and There).
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