As the festive season approaches, Ugandans prepare themselves for the annual transport fare hike, something that has become as predictable as the Christmas lights that illuminate the city’s streets.
The norm has not changed with most Bus terminals across Kampala, whose transport fares have increased, affecting travellers and impacting routes such as Kampala to Gulu, Arua, Lira, Kitgum, Apac, and Kampala to Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, and Kabong.
At Namayiba, a park housing several bus operators, including Mokome Buses, Gateway, OPIT, HMK, Teso Coach, and Kakiise, the fare increment is consistent across all bus operators at the terminal, regardless of the specific route.
For a traveller from Kampala to Gulu, fares have changed from Shs35,000 to Shs50,000, Arua from Shs50,000 to Shs80,000, Moroto from Shs40,000 to Shs60,000, Kabong from Shs50,000 to Shs70,000, Kotido from Shs45,000 to Shs60,000, Mbale from Shs25000 to Shs40,000, and Soroti from Shs35000 to Shs50,000. At the Jaguar Bus terminal, transport fares from Kampala to Kisoro increased to Shs60,000 from Shs50,000, Kampala to Kabale increased from Shs40,000 to Shs50,000, and Kampala to Mbarara increased from Shs30,000 to Shs40,000.
For the eastern route, the fares increased by Shs5,000; Kampala to Mbale, Soroti, the fares are at Shs30,000 from Shs25,000, Kampala to Tororo, Namutumba, Iganga, Busia, at Shs25,000 from Shs20,000, and Jinja at Shs15,000 from Shs12,000. At Tausi Bus Services, fares to Ishaka and Bushenyi have risen to Shs50,000 from Shs40,000, while tickets to Mbarara now cost Shs30,000, up from Shs25,000. At Freedom Buses terminal on Namirembe road, passengers travelling to Kazo and Ibanda are now paying Shs50,000 up from Shs35,000. Cross-border travellers have also been affected. Volcano Bus Services has increased fares to Goma, in the DR Congo, and destinations in Rwanda to Shs100,000, up from Shs80,000.
Mr Dickson Kasajja, a taxi driver in the New Tax Park, said despite making slight increments of Shs5,000 as compared to last year, the turnout remains low.
‘Many people travelled to villages last month in November, fearing the election chaos. I have been parked here almost since morning. I am not seeing passengers, the prices are high, the car owners need money, but customers are nowhere,’ he said. In contrast, YY Coaches have maintained their fares. Mr Musa Kasirye, the operations manager for YY Coaches in Kampala, said for a long time, the transport fares have never changed.
‘From the beginning, at YY coaches we do not increase transport unlike other terminals, this is partly because we don’t have unnecessary costs like broker fees, and so the amount charged is agreed upon with the Transport Licensing Board (TLB),” he said
The fares have been maintained for travellers to Mbale at Shs30, 000, Soroti Shs35, 000, Lira at Shs40, 000, Arua at Shs60, 000 and Yumbe-Koboko at Shs 70,000. However, commuters have expressed frustration over the fare increase, citing the economic challenges they face.
‘We are already struggling to make ends meet, and this fare increase is a heavy burden on us. We need to provide for our families and communities in the villages, but now we have to spend more on transport,’ said Denis Omwatum, a passenger travelling to Soroti District. Another traveller added: ‘The festive season is a time for celebration, not for increased expenses. We urge the transport operators to reconsider their decision and find alternative solutions to their challenges.’
Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the minister of Works and Transport, urged transport operators not to double fares, adding that the ministry is set to have discussions with them and provide further guidance.
‘Operators should not double the fares; we are yet to have a harmonisation discussion with them, and thereafter we shall have a press conference to give appropriate guidance and directives,’ he said.
Mr Nixon Kiiza, a transport officer at Namayiba Bus Terminal, said the festive season is a peak period that increases demand for services, but also causes additional costs for operators, including extra staffing, maintenance, and the challenge of returning empty vehicles to Kampala. These expenses, he said, necessitate a fare increase.