Government has broken down transport fares for the newly introduced E-Bus Xpress service as part of efforts to improve public transport and reduce traffic congestion in Kampala.
The electric bus service offers commuters affordable, safe and modern transport across different parts of the city, with fares starting from as low as Shs 800.
Under the new fare structure, passengers travelling from City Square to Nakawa and Wandegeya will pay Shs800, while those travelling from City Square to Ntinda and Bukoto will pay Shs1,500.
Commuters travelling between Nakawa and Ntinda, as well as Bukoto and Ntinda, will each pay Shs800.
Government said the fares will remain constant and will not fluctuate.
Officials said the E-Bus Xpress service is aimed at promoting smarter and cleaner urban mobility through the use of electric buses equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi to improve commuter comfort.
The service is being operated on a fully cashless payment system. Passengers using MTN Mobile Money pay through 16522# or Merchant Code 594434, while Airtel Money users pay using code 4405648.
The introduction of Kiira Motors Corporation Kayoola electric buses continues to face criticism from taxi operators, who say the new transport system threatens their livelihoods.
Rashid Ssekindi, the leader of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF), said the buses are unfairly competing with taxi operators already serving the same routes in Kampala.
“It is concerning that the regulator Kampala Capital City Authority appears to be collaborating with Kiira Motors, the manufacturers, to introduce electric buses on routes already operated by taxi operators without proper consultation,” Ssekindi said.
He argued that the arrangement creates unfair competition between taxi operators and the government-backed bus system.
“This creates an uneven playing field. On one hand, taxis operate under full tax obligations and fuel costs, while on the other, these new operators benefit from government backing and lower costs,” he added.
Taxi operators fear the expansion of the electric buses could reduce passenger numbers for taxis and eventually affect thousands of jobs within the public transport sector.
Government says the introduction of the buses is part of wider plans to modernise Kampala’s public transport system and provide residents with reliable and affordable travel options.
