TEARGAS ROCKS MBARARA AS TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST DEMOLITION OF THEIR OFFICES

By Aggrey Twesigye

www.mknewslink.com

In Mbarara—

Tear gas has today rocked Mbarara city Taxi Park as police and the army tried to disperse angry taxi drivers who tried to stop Mbarara city enforcement team from demolishing their offices.

The offices in question are located in the taxi park and they house Mbarara United Taxi Owners, Conductors and Drivers Cooperative Limited.

It is said that taxi drivers built the offices yesterday night and by the time Mbarara city enforcement team came, the works on the building were in the final stages.

According to Yoram Kalamuzi the stage master Kasheshero-Mitooma (Ruhinda), the offices in contestation were built after the owners of the offices which they used to rent demanded for a huge amount of money, 1800.000 per month.

“These offices we have been renting are owned by some of the city Councilors and they charge us highly,” he added.

Taxi drivers intimated to www.mknewslink.com that the Mbarara city council instituted the park without offices and surprisingly they don’t even have toilets/latrines.

“What interest does Mbarara city council have in Taxi Park? President Museveni handed the taxi park to taxi drivers and Conductors so, the city leadership should stop pocking their nose in our issues,” angry taxi drivers blasted.

Hajji Jamil Bikyase  Mbarara United Taxi Owners Conductors and Driver’s Cooperative Limited welfare questioned arrogance of the city clerk  and the mayor who refused to come to their rescue.

“We have been paying huge amount of money ranging from 1.8 Million – 2 Million shillings per month until we decided to construct our own offices,” he added.

He further called upon taxi drivers to stay calm as authorities handle their grievances.

Angry taxi drivers finally agreed with security officers to demolish one of the buildings leaving only one office which they will be using.

By press time, efforts to get a word from the city mayor Robert Kakyebezi were futile since he had a meeting.

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