KAMPALA – Taxi operators plying the Entebbe Expressway have succumbed to pressure, regularising their status through the formation of an association as one of the channels of improving their services.
The operators, who use vans commonly referred to as ‘drones’ met the Works and Transport State Minister, Fred Byamukama on Wednesday.
Peter Kaggwa, the Chairperson of the Fly-Express Travellers Association told the minister that they had fulfilled all the government requirements including of branding their vehicles, paying the requisite PSV license, and ensuring they have qualified drivers.
Byamukama told the group that the government had no problem with anybody doing business as long as they respected the law.
He said operating taxi services with unlabelled vans posed a security risk as criminals at times use drones to kidnap, rape, and kill people along the Entebbe Expressway.
The development follows a crackdown against the operators following complaints by the regular taxi operators early this month.
The drone taxi operators often loaded passengers destined for Entebbe, mainly from the Railway station in Kampala and could not be reined – owing to the fact that the public believed that such vehicles belonged to security agencies.
The taxis were operating illegally but their smartness, 
good mechanical condition of their vehicles, in addition to fair charges endeared them in the eyes the passengers.
Drones have since 2020 been infamous for security operations. They are ‘known to belong’ security operatives dressed in civilian attires and can grab targets in any uncivilised form.
The illegal operators have gotten endeared to passengers because of the smartness and good mechanical condition of their vehicles, in addition to fair charges.
Additional reporting by URN
