Taxi driver leaders in Kampala have criticised the government over the technology being used to inspect commuter taxis for dangerous mechanical conditions, arguing that the system unfairly targets older vehicles.

The Ministry of Works and Transport recently launched a 100-day crackdown aimed at removing commuter taxis in Dangerous Mechanical Condition (DMC) from roads within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Speaking to journalists in Kampala, Muhammad Ssempijja, a driver and leader at Namayiba Taxi Park, questioned the suitability of the inspection technology for Uganda’s vehicle fleet, where many taxis are more than 10 to 20 years old.

Ssempijja alleged that the inspection technology is designed to favour relatively newer vehicles, making it difficult for many older but otherwise roadworthy taxis to pass the inspection.

He called for greater cooperation among security agencies, government authorities, taxi owners and drivers to ensure that the enforcement exercise improves road safety without unnecessarily disrupting people’s livelihoods.

Ssempijja also urged drivers operating vehicles in poor mechanical condition to take them to garages for proper servicing and repairs before returning to the road.

He warned that failure to maintain the vehicles could result in disruptions to their operations and possible impounding during the ongoing crackdown.

The government says the exercise is intended to improve road safety by removing mechanically unsafe commuter taxis from Uganda’s roads.

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