TWO ISINGIRO RIVAL TAXI DRIVERS’ COMPANIES ENGAGE IN FIGHT, FIVE INJURED

BY ELLY NYESIGA

IN ISINGIRO

Five people have been injured in a scuffle that ensued today between rival taxi drivers in Isingiro town council. The fight also paralyzed transport leaving dozens of passengers stranded.

This followed accusations by a group of drivers under the Isingiro taxi drivers and owners cooperative society on Isingiro Town Council Taxi Owners and Drivers Cooperative Society of overcharging them in taxes as well as operating when their tender had expired.

The rival groups pelted stones at each other while others used big sticks to hit their rivals. The Taxi drivers under Isingiro taxi drivers and owners cooperative society say their rivals ask for 5,000 shillings as loading and offloading fees but give them receipts indicating that they have paid 3,000 shs only.However, Robert Turyakiira the Vice chairperson Isingiro Town Council Taxi Owners and Drivers Cooperative Society says claims by their rivals are only aimed at undermining them and branding them as incompetent.  The town clerk Isingiro town council Emanuel Karanzi told www.mknewslink.com news website when contacted that the authorities decided to use Isingiro Town Council Taxi Owners and Drivers Cooperative Society to collect the taxes on their behalf because they lack manpower.

Isingiro district police commander Moses Muzima says they have deployed in the town council to safe guard people and their property as well as ensuring that the violence does not escalate.  He asked the drivers to look for more organized ways of solving their problems instead of resorting to street fights.

By press time, the situation was relatively calm and peace had returned to the town council but police remained on standby.