The Minister of Works and Transport, General Katumba Wamala has urged operators of Public Transport not to hike transport fares during the festive season, saying the pandemic has rid people of their incomes and many to take back their children to school in January.

“We are negotiating with transport operators to see that our people travelling upcountry aren’t exploited during the festive season but also to see that the bus operators don’t lose out. I have also discussed with the leadership in the taxi business to see that they come up with fares which are okay,” said Minister Katumba.

“Don’t exploit our travels, people don’t have the money. So let us be fair as we help people to move,” he added.

The Minister also urged Ugandans expecting to travel for the festive seasons to plan their journeys early in order to reduce on-road crashes especially for those rushing on the roads.

However, Rashid Ssekindi, Secretary Uganda Federation of Taxi Operators defended the hike of transport fares, saying the decision is driven by the demand of people going upcountry, yet there are fewer people leaving villages to towns, so the taxi operators’ charges are based on the fact that they’re driving empty vehicles back to urban areas.

He also urged travellers to plan for their journeys early if they are to escape from the exorbitant transport fares. He also attributed the hike in fares to the recent increase in fuel prices.