Travelers Continue to Flock Bus Terminals on Christmas, Fares Slashed

Public Transport operators have slashed fares to several upcountry destinations despite the high number of people still flocking bus terminals and taxi parks to travel upcountry for the Christmas holidays.

Hundreds were still queuing up in Kisenyi bus terminal by about 9:00 a.m this morning to book tickets to Western Uganda. 

Esau Kansiime, a resident of Namugongo destined for Kabaale, says although he wanted to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with his family, he couldn't afford to travel during the peak of the season due to among other things the hire transport fares.

//Cue in: “Anti christmas…

Cue out…abantu bangi.”//

Moses Tushabe, a worker with NG Travelers bus company, which plies the Kampala- Mutukula route, says they have agreed to reduce the transport fares given the fact that there is no more gridlock, which could cost them time and  fuel. He says the fares have been reduced from Shillings 50,000 to 25,000.

//Cue in: “Mutukula, kyotera…

Cue out…getulaba kati.”//

Transport fares to Rukungiri has dropped from Shillings 70,000 to 50,000. The trip to Kamwege now costs Shillings 30,000 from 60,000. Many other routes have reduced by between Shillings 10,000 and 15,000 from what they have been charging in the past days.

Twaha Ssemamba, a driver of a coaster in the New Taxi Park, says travelers moving at such a time tend to force drivers to chauffeur them at a high speed because they want to arrive early enough to join their families for the festivities. He however, says that drivers this time around will not bow to pressure given the number of checkpoints and traffick officers on the highways.

//Cue in: “Abantu batambula…

Cue out…siwogisaga.”//

Majority of the Bus Companies plying upcountry routes always increase transport fares from Kampala to up country destinations, a week to Christmas because of the surge in the number of travelers. Ssemamba says the fares to upcountry destinations might normalize by tomorrow.