Tuk-tuks threaten to kick lorries out of transportation business in Kabale

Pick up and lorry drivers are in fear that their business is at the verge of collapsing after the introduction of tuk-tuks in Kabale municipality.

Currently tuk-tuks cover the wide range of transportation services across the country.

It’s not any different when one is in Kabale, with there distorting sound a minute doesn’t elapse when tuk-tuks are seen carrying different items that include beddings, food items, charcoal, chairs etc in Kabale town.

This has left pick-up and lorry drivers worried that they are likely not to stay in business.

John Rukundo chairman of pick-up and lorry drivers says that ever since tuk-tuks came into the business transport, they have greatly been affected adding that to their surprise they do the exact work they used to do.

He adds that what is shocking is that tuk-tuks do operate without  driving permits.

“Tuk-tuks have over taken most of our work we used to do. What hurts us most is that they currently do the same work like what a lorries and pick-ups do. They even don’t have driving permits and yet they continue to operate," Rukundo said.

Bruce Ainebyoona another pick-up driver highlighted that tuk-tuks have greatly affected the business adding that  they have made the business cheaper in that  where they used to charge Shs30,000, for tuk-tuks they charge Shs10,000 which has led to customers opting for tuk-tuk usage.

He adds that even when pick-up drivers get work to do, they are sometimes interrupted by traffic and yet tuk-tuks are not interrupted .

“For us the conditions are tough because the job which am supposed to be charging shs30,000 tuk-tuks charge shs10,000 so in return people opt to hire tuk-tuks and for us we stay stuck while parking without any work to do. "

Efforts to reach out to tuk-tuks leadership  were futile as they claimed to be busy.

Sam Arinaitwe, the  chairman central division Kabale municipality acknowledges that from time to time as leaders they noticed an increase in the tuk-tuk business adding that it  affects the pick-up business.

He adds that as council they must pick interest because if the pick-ups are not operational then the revenue collection is affected.

 

 

In June 2017, the then minister for Kampala Betty Kamya had issued a ban on the operation of tuk-tuks in the city but that order was swiftly overruled by president Museveni. President Museveni went ahead to show his support by ceremonially riding in a tuk-tuk while issuing the order that they were free to ferry passengers in the city.