The transport company, known for its services to Kabale town and Kigali in Rwanda, recently expanded its operations, causing discontent among local taxi drivers.
Taxi drivers along various routes, including the
Kabale-Mbarara Highway and the Katuna –Rubaya-Butanda roads, are at odds with
Cross Country Transport Company over passengers and route operations. The
transport company, known for its services to Kabale town and Kigali in Rwanda,
recently expanded its operations, causing discontent among local taxi drivers.
In response to the company's actions, taxi drivers emptied
their park next to the bus park and blocked Cross Country Transport Company
from loading passengers or leaving the area on Monday morning. The situation
escalated into exchanges of bitter words until security authorities intervened
later in the day, led by figures such as Godfrey Nyakahuma, Kabale Resident
District Commissioner, Reuben Mutabaazi, District Internal Security Officer,
and Joseph Bakaleke, District Police Commander.
The taxi drivers, represented by leaders such as Robert
Kabengye and Saturday Byamugisha, accused Cross Country Transport Company of
disregarding taxi business guidelines in Kabale District. They claimed that the
company's establishment of separate offices in the bus park instead of the taxi
park allowed it to avoid paying daily service fees.
Additionally, they criticized
the company for engaging in direct competition with taxi drivers rather than
solely focusing on special passenger transport.
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Nyakahuma urged both parties to maintain calm and pledged to
convene a meeting to explore potential solutions to the conflict.
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The administrators of Cross Country Transport Company
declined to comment on the matter when approached by reporters. As of press
time, tensions between the two parties persisted, with taxi drivers determined
to continue their efforts until the company complies with their demands.
