HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Uganda’s transport industry is set to witness drastic changes due to Government’s newly launched crack down on old taxis, with authorities moving to remove dangerous and unroadworthy commuter vehicles from the roads in a 100-day operation aimed at improving passenger safety and restoring minimum standards in the public transport sector.
Dubbed Operation Ganyegenya, the joint enforcement exercise by the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda Police Force and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will begin on Monday, August 24, 2026, starting with 14-seater commuter taxis operating in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
The first phase will cover Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono before the operation is extended to other parts of the country.
For the transport industry, the crackdown could mark a significant turning point. While the government insists that it is not banning the taxi business, the operation is likely to force operators to replace, repair or withdraw vehicles that have for years remained on the roads despite serious mechanical and structural defects.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the operation follows a two-month assessment of vehicles at government inspection centres, which exposed what authorities described as an alarming level of non-compliance.
According to the minister, about 60 targeted vehicles were inspected during the assessment, with none meeting the required safety standards.
Byamukama said some of the taxis had been involved in accidents, abandoned in garages and later purchased cheaply by individuals who carried out only minor repairs before returning them to the road.
“These are cars which got accidents some time back, and the owners abandoned them in the garages. But our own Ugandans buy them from these garages at a very cheap cost. They just put tyres and bring them on the road,” he said.
The government is particularly concerned about vehicles locally described as Gaganyaganya or Kinyegenya, some of which are allegedly held together using makeshift materials such as ropes and super glue.
The minister said some vehicles have reached a point where basic components, including doors and seats, cannot be relied upon.
“Some of these taxis are DMCs (dangerous mechanical condition) and are not acceptable on the roads. At some point you find a driver driving while holding the door, which is risky for passengers and the driver himself,” Byamukama said.
The enforcement operation will therefore focus on defects that directly threaten the lives of passengers, drivers, pedestrians and other road users.
Traffic Police will establish checkpoints inside taxi parks and along major transport corridors, where vehicles will be examined for faulty braking and steering systems, worn-out tyres, damaged or missing seats, defective doors, weakened chassis and malfunctioning lights.
Taxis found to be dangerous will be impounded, while drivers operating such vehicles will face arrest. KCCA has provided a secured holding facility in Nakawa where the seized vehicles will be kept.
The immediate impact will likely be felt by taxi owners who have continued operating ageing vehicles because of the high cost of acquiring newer ones. For many small operators, replacing an old taxi is a major financial undertaking, particularly in an industry where daily earnings must cover fuel, maintenance, licence fees, wages and other operating costs.
The crackdown could consequently trigger a shake-up in ownership, as operators unable to repair or replace their vehicles may be forced out of the market or compelled to seek partnerships with other investors.
However, the operation could also create opportunities for operators with roadworthy vehicles. Those who comply with inspection requirements will be allowed to continue operating, meaning passengers could gradually shift towards safer and better-maintained taxis.
The government maintains that it is not opposed to the taxi industry, which remains one of the most important components of Uganda’s urban transport system.
Thousands of commuters in Kampala and surrounding districts rely on taxis every day to travel to workplaces, schools, markets and other destinations. Removing a large number of vehicles without ensuring adequate replacement capacity could therefore create temporary shortages, longer waiting times and higher transport costs.
This makes the implementation of Operation Ganyegenya particularly important. Authorities will have to balance enforcement with the need to maintain an adequate supply of public transport, especially during peak hours.
For the taxi industry, the operation could also encourage greater professionalisation. Regular vehicle maintenance, proper inspection and compliance with safety requirements could increasingly become unavoidable costs of doing business rather than expenses that operators can postpone.
The government has argued that public transport safety should no longer be compromised for political or commercial considerations.
The 100-day operation is therefore expected to send a broader message to the transport sector: age alone may not necessarily disqualify a taxi, but a vehicle that fails basic safety requirements will not be allowed to carry passengers.
If sustained beyond the initial 100 days, the operation could establish a new culture of enforcement in which dangerous vehicles are removed before they contribute to accidents and loss of lives.
For commuters, the biggest expected benefit is safer travel. For taxi owners, however, the exercise will bring increased pressure to invest in maintenance and replacement of vehicles.
Ultimately, Operation Ganyegenya could transform Uganda’s taxi industry from one heavily characterised by ageing vehicles and informal maintenance practices into a sector where roadworthiness is treated as a fundamental condition for doing business.
The success of the crackdown will, however, depend not only on how many taxis are impounded, but also on whether authorities can maintain consistent inspections, prevent corruption in the enforcement process and ensure that compliant operators are given a predictable environment in which to operate.
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