Taxi operators walked out of a highly anticipated meeting with Commissioner Winstone Katushabe today at the Ministry of Works and Transport, accusing government technocrats of dodging accountability over the Auto Express Penalty System (EPS).
The dramatic walkout came after Katushabe, the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety told the gathered taxi leaders that only the Minister of Works and Transport holds the authority to suspend or halt the ongoing EPS enforcement, leaving operators feeling dismissed and powerless.
“We came here for solutions, not excuses,” shouted one visibly enraged driver as he stormed out. “How many times must we beg before someone listens?”
The Auto Express Penalty System, rolled out to digitize and automate traffic enforcement, has ignited widespread backlash particularly among public transport workers who say it’s full of errors, harsh penalties, and zero transparency.
Many operators report receiving multiple fines for alleged offences they never committed, with no clear channels for appeal or explanation.
In recent weeks, taxi parks across Kampala and greater Uganda have buzzed with unrest, culminating in a demand for the system’s immediate suspension.
Today’s meeting, which was supposed to calm tensions and chart a path forward, only amplified the outrage.
Held at the Ministry of Works headquarters, the closed-door session was expected to yield concrete resolutions. Instead, the Commissioner’s message that only the Minister can make that decision felt like a slap in the face to the already agitated operators.
“We didn’t come here to be redirected. If the Minister is the one with power, why weren’t they in the room?” asked James Sseruyange, a senior member of the Kampala Metropolitan Taxi Association.
Within minutes of Katushabe’s remarks, several operator delegates got up and left the meeting, accusing the ministry of stalling and failing to take their grievances seriously.
Today’s walkout marks a dangerous escalation in what’s quickly becoming a national transport crisis. Operators have already threatened a massive strike and have warned that if government inaction continues, public transport in major towns will grind to a halt.
“We carry the economy every day. If they can’t fix this mess, we’ll park all our taxis and see who suffers more.”
While Katushabe maintained a calm tone during the encounter, sources say internal tension is rising within the Ministry of Works as pressure mounts on Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala to intervene decisively.
With no immediate resolution in sight, both private and commercial road users remain at the mercy of the EPS, which continues to auto-generate tickets, some exceeding UGX 1 million in fines per driver.
Civil society groups have also begun calling for a full audit of the system, transparency in how offences are recorded, and a halt on enforcement until public confidence is restored.
Also Read: NUP Youth Denied Nominations in Kawempe Amid EC Chaos
