Drivers of government vehicles do not appear to be selfish or hard-hearted as their counterparts in other African countries.
During a recent strike by taxi drivers in Kampala, Uganda drivers employed by the government offered “free taxi” service to their compatriots stranded along the Masaka-Kampala highway.
“Government is there to help its people”, said one such driver with a government registration number who was seen picking stranded passengers.
“All these government vehicles were bought with tax payers’ money and that is why I am giving free transport to these people. I don’t think my boss will prosecute me for helping them”, said the large-hearted driver who craved anonymity.
And the strike did not appear to be a popular one as a section of the striking private taxi drivers called the Kyengera participated for fear of their lives and vehicles.
Mr. Male Mukasa, the spokesperson Kyengera stage appealed to the police to provide them with enough security, adding that they “We are not interested in the ongoing strike but fear for our lives from our colleagues who may seek retribution against us for failing to join the strike”, said Male Mukasa, Kyengera stage spokesman.
“Kyengera stage has over 100 taxis but Natete police has deployed only two police patrols which are not enough to cover the whole area. So, I ask the police to deploy more patrols and even arrest Mr Abdallah Kitata, the chairperson of the Bodaboda association, who spent the whole of last week announcing for the Taxi and Bodaboda strike which is hurting passengers”, added Mukasa.
And the fear of Mukasa was soon corroborated, as one of his colleagues on the Kyengera-Nsangi stage, Mr. Abas Ssebaduka repeatedly narrated the story of how his cab was vandalized and his Conductor injured by some of his striking colleagues at Wakaliga on its way to Kampala.
“When I reached at Wakaliga near Ivy’s Hotel a group of Boda boda riders came from nowhere shattered my front mirror; the passenger who was seated in front with me sustained injuries from the broken mirror and my conductor beaten by the mob,” said Ssebaduka.
But Police Superintendent Moses Muzima, attached to Natete Police Station and was in charge of the two Police patrols in Natete, Mutundwe, Busega and Kyengera area, said police had deployed heavily to arrest all the people who are promoting the strike.
Meanwhile, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, promised to arrest all police officers who “fail to control the situation” within their respective areas of duty/coverage.