The Government has banned the operation of dilapidated commuter taxis, commonly known as “Ganyegenya,” on roads across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, with police set to begin impounding the vehicles from Monday, August 24, 2026.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama announced a 100-day enforcement operation targeting taxis operating in what authorities classify as a Dangerous Mechanical Condition (DMC), saying the move is intended to protect passengers and restore order in the public transport sector.
The operation follows a 60-day assessment during which 30 commuter taxis inspected at government vehicle inspection centres failed to meet mandatory roadworthiness requirements, according to the minister.
Byamukama said the government could no longer tolerate vehicles that put lives at risk, despite previous resistance from some operators.
“We cannot continue putting people’s lives at risk at the expense of votes or strikes. We must be clear. It is the mandate of the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure these Ganyegenya taxis are off the road,” he said.
The minister described many of the targeted 14-seater taxis as being in an appalling mechanical state, saying some have doors held together with super glue, steering wheels tied with ropes, and torn and unhygienic seats.
“These taxis are beyond repair. You find a taxi has loaded people, yet the seats are smelling and torn. The doors are held with super glue, and some steering wheels are tied with ropes. This is putting people’s lives at risk,” Byamukama said.
He recalled personally witnessing dangerous scenes on Kampala roads, including an incident in which a driver was steering with one hand while holding a faulty door with the other.
“I saw one around the Mpererwe stretch where the driver was holding the steering while holding the door because it couldn’t lock. That puts the passenger, the driver and everyone else on the road at risk,” he added.
Beyond mechanical defects, Byamukama said security concerns had also informed the crackdown, alleging that some ageing taxis have been used to target unsuspecting passengers.
“We have also found that these taxis, commonly known as Ganyegenya, are being used to steal people. Someone enters and they hijack the person,” he said.
The minister said police had already received directives to begin enforcing the operation across Kampala and surrounding areas from Monday.
“We have brought 100 days of operation against Ganyegenya in Greater Kampala and the surrounding areas. We have given a directive to police, and it is within our laws to enforce this,” he said.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will provide storage space for vehicles impounded during the operation.
The government says the crackdown is part of a broader effort to introduce what Byamukama described as “trade order” in Uganda’s transport sector, ensuring that public transport operates in a safe and organised manner while protecting both commuters and operators.
