TAPSCOM Pushes UTODA From Dining Table --Kampala Metropolitan BY Pauline Nalwanga The oldest taxi managers, UTODA have opened war on newcomers TAPSCOM which independent observers say rotates around money issues and who should be in charge of the lucrative business. TAPSCOM invaded UTODA’s turf mid last year and have since sweet-talked former guides and taxi touts of UTODA to cross over to them. Today, both the old taxi parks and new taxi parks, among others is teeming with TAPSCOM’s guides and touts robed in their spotless white gowns. The new entrants appear to have a lot of clout with UTODA claiming that some big politicians, including MPs especially Makindye East legislator John Ssimbwa pointed out as TAPSCOM’s godfather. One Yasin Ssematimba is said to be the chairman of stages under TAPSCOM, which is allegedly collecting Shs300, 000 from each taxi monthly, yet KCCA set the levy at Shs120, 000. Mustapha Mayambala , the man who filed a case against KCCA over what the High Court later declared to be illegal Shs120,000 monthly charges, but which government refused to scrap anyway, brought the charge of the illegal Shs300,000 monthly charge levy against TPASCOM. Ssematimba denies the allegations. He even tasks KCCA and the Minister in charge of Kampala as well as Police to investigate the matter with a view of finding out the truth. Mayambala, who has since appealed government’s refusal to scrap the Shs120, 000 monthly levy as per the High Court’s judgment, is also the Chairman DACCO, yet another body claiming to be running the taxi business. “Those guys (TAPSCOM) came from nowhere and before we knew it they were lording it over everyone in the taxi business,” UTODA’s Secretary Grace Luyera quarreled. An emotionally charged Luyera tasked City Hall managers to explain when it advertised the taxi business tender, in which newspaper and when the best evaluated bidder was given the job. “These guys harass our members, hold kangaroo courts and pass illegal penalties as well as impounding taxis in order to extort money from their victims,” Luyera claimed. The UTODA management held a meeting with the Minister in Charge of Kampala Frank Tumwebaze last week in which they expressed their misgivings against their rival. “We gave the minister evidence of the illegality of TAPSCOM and promised to look into the matter. We are eagerly waiting for the Minister’s verdict,” Luyera told the Whisper. We understand that Tumwebaze told the warring parties that the KCCA legal team and other stakeholders will meet soon for purposes of drawing a new proposal with clear guidelines to govern taxi drivers as a way to solve the situation. “Even if we elect new leaders to promote order in the taxi business, without clear guidelines, the bickering amongst you will not end,” Tumwebaze pointed out. Tumwebaze was optimistic that the draft will be ready by May this year after which he will convene a meeting with tax drivers to sensitize them about the new guidelines and possibly a new leader elected to manage the taxi business. However, Phoebe Lutaaya, the KCCA revenue director defends TAPSCOM. She says the body is legal and was put in place after the abolition of UTODA and DACCO. “The body consists of ten members selected by taxi drivers’ representatives from almost 80 stages working on behalf of KCCA,” Phoebe explained.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:48:32 +0000
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