Taxi operators have demanded the government suspend the Auto Express Penalty Scheme by Sunday. If officials do not act, they will begin a nationwide strike on Monday. This demand followed a tense meeting between the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF) and the Ministry of Works and Transport. During the session, operators criticized the Auto Express Penalty Scheme for issuing unfair fines and ignored stakeholder input. They announced they would park their taxis across Uganda, potentially crippling public transport.
UTOF Chairperson Rashid Ssekindi insisted the government must act immediately, claiming that the Auto Express Penalty Scheme rolled out without proper testing or transparency. Drivers said the system penalizes them unfairly and demanded a reduction of the speeding fine from Shs600,000 to Shs100,000. One driver even received a fine for not wearing a helmet—a rule that applies only to boda boda riders.
Many taxi operators also revealed they had not been informed about the traffic law changes that introduced a 50% surcharge on unpaid fines in May 2025. Since then, hundreds charged with this additional penalty had no prior notice. Mr. Ssekindi added that the Auto Express Penalty Scheme had fined some vehicles more than ten times for a single offence at the same time and place. He demanded that the government cancel all such tickets and fix the enforcement errors.
Operators also highlighted that they get penalized after following police orders. For instance, traffic police sometimes direct drivers through red lights to ease congestion. Yet, cameras later fine these drivers under the Auto Express Penalty Scheme. Mr. Ssekindi noted the system fails to differentiate between obeying officers and violating traffic laws.
They also cited roads frequently used by the President’s convoy, such as the Entebbe Expressway. There, security personnel often stop traffic, yet drivers still receive fines. Confusing signage compounds the problem. On Entebbe Road, signs show a 60 km/h limit, but the system fines drivers for doing 40 km/h—another system failure under the Auto Express Penalty Scheme.
Operators compared Uganda’s enforcement model to Rwanda’s, which launched public education campaigns before implementing similar systems. Close engagement there built public trust and helped reduce accidents. By contrast, Mr. Ssekindi argued, Uganda enforces penalties remotely without educating drivers into safe behavior.
Taxi leaders also said Uganda’s fines exceed those in neighboring countries—Shs133,000 in Rwanda, Shs139,700 in Kenya, and Shs60,000 in Tanzania. In comparison, Uganda’s Shs600,000 penalty seems punitive rather than corrective.
Veteran driver Mustafa Mayambala suggested fining actual drivers instead of vehicle owners to promote accountability. He reminded officials that operators had asked in May to delay EPS implementation, but they received no response. He warned that unless they answered their latest petition, taxis would stop running on Monday.
Additional voices joined the call. Matugga–Luweero route driver Isma Makumbi urged President Museveni to intervene, claiming the system alienates citizens. Namirembe Taxi Park supervisor Haruna Musa added that drivers would rather strike now than face crippling fines. “We will end up selling our vehicles,” he warned.
Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winston Katushabe responded by promising to submit the petition to the Minister of Works. He said the government would consider extending the fine payment window from 72 hours to 28 days. He also pledged to coordinate with the Directorate of Traffic and KCCA to remove duplicate fines and fix misleading signage.
Uganda’s taxi operators are united in their demand: suspend the Auto Express Penalty Scheme, cancel existing fines, correct faulty enforcement, reduce speeding penalties, display accurate speed limits, install cameras that show real-time speed readings, and focus penalties on actual drivers. Most importantly, they insist on a nationwide public education campaign before authorities resume full enforcement.
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