At least 10 taxis have been impounded in Luwero Town Council as authorities intensify enforcement of the Trade Order aimed at removing operators from ungazetted stages and restoring order in the town. On April 13, Luwero Town Council directed taxi drivers operating in unauthorized areas to relocate to the main taxi park.
Authorities also sealed off Balikyewunya Taxi Park, declaring it illegal and ordering drivers to stop loading and offloading passengers there with immediate effect. Despite the directive, several drivers reportedly continued operating along the Kampala–Gulu highway, while some operators who had relocated to the gazetted park threatened to return to the unauthorized stages.
On Monday, the town enforcement team conducted an operation in which at least 10 taxis were impounded for allegedly violating the order. Among the impounded vehicles were registration numbers UA 367DZ, UBP 120L, UBL 662Q, UBL 890E, UAZ 520P, UBL 716B, and UBJ 597D. David Bagambe, the Enforcement Officer for Luwero Town Council, said the drivers will appear before court on charges of violating Town Council By-law 11(1), which prohibits taxis from parking in ungazetted areas.
Bagambe explained that under By-law 11(3), offenders risk a fine of 40,000 shillings, a six-month jail sentence, or both, depending on the court’s decision. He said the operations are intended to enforce compliance with the Trade Order and restore proper traffic management within the town. Some taxi drivers appealed for leniency, arguing that authorities should first conduct more sensitization before implementing strict enforcement measures.
David Kiyimba, one of the taxi drivers, said that while maintaining order is important, both passengers and drivers should first be consulted. Other drivers complained that the designated taxi park is too far from passengers, making it difficult for travelers to conveniently access transport services.
The taxi operators have since petitioned the Resident District Commissioner seeking intervention to halt the ongoing evictions from ungazetted stages. A meeting involving taxi drivers, the enforcement team, and the RDC has been scheduled for Thursday this week.
Meanwhile, enforcement officers in Wobulenzi Town Council have demolished kiosks erected along streets after traders failed to comply with an earlier ultimatum ordering them to vacate unauthorized spaces. Moses Ssebalamu, the LC3 Chairperson of Wobulenzi Town Council, said many vendors voluntarily complied with the directive, while others ignored it, prompting authorities to demolish their structures.
Last week, the Cabinet approved the nationwide reinstatement of the Trade Order, ending a temporary suspension and directing local governments to remove street vendors, hawkers, and illegal kiosks from city walkways. Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi described the Trade Order as “non-negotiable,” saying vendors must relocate to designated markets to improve urban sanitation and restore order-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
