By Sadique Bamwita
Entebbe
The Entebbe Municipality Mayor Fabrice Brad Rulinda, has warned taxi drivers under their umbrella body Fly Express Travellers’ Association to avoid internal squabbles among themselves, urging them to work in harmony for better transport services.
His warning followed concerns raised by Aziz Asaba, the former Executive member who had falsely accused the association Chairperson, Peter Kaggwa of diverting Shs.2 billion from the association SACCO, which was later proved to be idle talks.
While handing over land titles to 50 taxi drivers of Entebbe Fly Express Travellers’ Association, mayor Fabrice Brad Rulinda noted that prior to formation of Fly Express association in 2021, the taxi operations was absolutely in mess and thanked the association Chairperson Peter Kaggwa for reorganizing the taxi business.
” When I became mayor in 2021, I found Entebbe Stages Conductors Drivers Association fighting Fly Express Travellers’ Association. So, I would not allow disorder to go on. I sat down the two factions and reminded them to accept change,” Mayor Fabrice Rulinda said.
Mayor Fabrice Rulinda tasked Fly Express taxi drivers who recieved land titles to develop their plots and desist from temptations of selling their land or using titles to acquire loans from money lenders . He instead urged them to continue with their daily savings such that they can use their savings to construct their houses.
He pledged to engage the minister of Kampala, Hajat Minsa Kabanda to reduce on the exorbitant taxes paid by drivers of Fly Express Travellers’ Association.
The Entebbe Municipality Legislator, Stephen Shyaka Gashaija, who donated Shs.3 million to Fly Express Travellers’ Association SACCO, urged the two rival taxi operators to work together, and advised the Walakira-led faction of Entebbe Stages Conductors Drivers Association to emulate Fly Express Travellers’ Association in execution of their taxi business.
Shyaka pledged to get a gazetted stage in Kampala City for Fly Express Travellers’ Association to avoid interruptions from KCCA enforcement team.
Rev.Fr. Musukulumu,who presided over the prayer mass for Fly Express drivers at Entebbe Bus park, appealed to taxi drivers to avoid womanizing but instead they should save money to develop their plots they have just acquired.
The Chairperson of Fly Express Travellers’ Association, Peter Kaggwa, said his association has been saving money for the last 7 years and it’s the very money that he has used to buy his drivers land in Namayumba town council, Wakiso district. He, however said that drivers who were inpatient were given back their money.
Kaggwa appreciated the minister for works, Fred Byamukama for his support towards Fly Express Travellers’ Association , appealing to government to inject money in their SACCO.
The Chairperson of Entebbe Stages Conductors Drivers Association, Chief Abiola Hood Walakira, said he is not at war with his rival taxi operators of Fly Express Travellers’ Association and pledged to copy from them to bring sanity in the association he leads.
The Manager Fly Express Travellers’ Association SACCO, Derrick Sebuliba, urged fellow drivers to continue saving more money in their SACCO to be able to develop their land . He , however noted that the biggest challenge the association faces is lack of a gazetted stage in Kampala saying that the taxi park does not adequately accommodate their organized model of taxi business.
The Entebbe police Community Liaison officer, Asp- Edith Atukundu, commended management of Fly Express Travellers’ Association for being disciplined, and for their good customer care towards passengers.
The treasurer for Fly Express Travellers’ Association, Jassey Birungi, appealed to all taxi drivers to join the SACCO saying those who are members have immensely benefited from their savings.
The taxi drivers who acquired land titles , appreciated management of FLy Express Travellers’ Association SACCO for putting their savings to good use without diverting them as earlier alleged by Aziz Asaba, the former Executive committee member.
