Yes! Yes! Finally, I can travel at whatever time I want and go where I want… so long as I have a mask!
That was my new year’s day proclamation! My excitement and sentiment aren’t unique to me. A great number of Ugandans were happy with H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s address which opened the economy.
Opening up the economy meant so much to many people. For some it meant, back to school, others picking up the shattered remains of their businesses and for many more, it brought hope for a better year than 2021. For me, a chance to start my 2020 pending list.
A lot has changed in this 2-year lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Most notable are the transport fares charged to the public. In most instances, the fares doubled to cater for the reduced passenger load necessitated by social distancing.
Like vegetables (read ‘entula’ also known as bitter berries) it was bitter but better. We spent more but got where we wanted.
Unfortunately, when fares go up for whatever reason in Uganda, they don’t seem to come back down. Nevertheless, I can’t believe it’s taken me one week to get a good enough reason to travel out of town. Still in disbelief, but alas I digress.
It’s 6:00 am, seven passengers and it’s a market day in Otuboi. 6:10 am and the scramble for the seats ensures. With the conductor adding a fourth passenger to each row. I was having none of it and stood my ground as the conductor pushed his unwelcome agenda. I pulled
out my big arsenal, telling him COVID is real and the fare is already too high. It should typically be UGX 7,000 ($1.97) but is now at UGX 10,000 ($2.82) on a seat meant for 3 and he sought to sit 4 people!
This was unacceptable. Unfortunately to my dismay, the majority of the passengers were on his side. Businesswomen who were simply in a hurry to get to the market. Squeezed, paying high fares and late.
That pretty summed them up. The other 4 passengers were a man and 3 students going back to school (I think). To them, I was more likely a noisy disenfranchised youth (millennial) making noise for them and causing the delay. That was more apathy than I could stomach, knowing full well it’s not my ride! 2023 resolution right there!
Anyway, the conductor changed his tact, apologised for being rude and offered to reduce my fare (a suggestion from the supposed business women).
I gave up the resistance and sat quietly. Guilty of a bribe. I will go fur penance tomorrow. The year 2022 has not begun.
Post Views: 286
Anguish as transport fares remain high amidst being packed like ‘mukene’ (sadines)
Yes! Yes! Finally, I can travel at whatever time I want and go where I want… so long as I have a mask!
That was my new year’s day proclamation! My excitement and sentiment aren’t unique to me. A great number of Ugandans were happy with H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s address which opened the economy.
Opening up the economy meant so much to many people. For some it meant, back to school, others picking up the shattered remains of their businesses and for many more, it brought hope for a better year than 2021. For me, a chance to start my 2020 pending list.
A lot has changed in this 2-year lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Most notable are the transport fares charged to the public. In most instances, the fares doubled to cater for the reduced passenger load necessitated by social distancing.
Like vegetables (read ‘entula’ also known as bitter berries) it was bitter but better. We spent more but got where we wanted.
Unfortunately, when fares go up for whatever reason in Uganda, they don’t seem to come back down. Nevertheless, I can’t believe it’s taken me one week to get a good enough reason to travel out of town. Still in disbelief, but alas I digress.
It’s 6:00 am, seven passengers and it’s a market day in Otuboi. 6:10 am and the scramble for the seats ensures. With the conductor adding a fourth passenger to each row. I was having none of it and stood my ground as the conductor pushed his unwelcome agenda. I pulled
out my big arsenal, telling him COVID is real and the fare is already too high. It should typically be UGX 7,000 ($1.97) but is now at UGX 10,000 ($2.82) on a seat meant for 3 and he sought to sit 4 people!
This was unacceptable. Unfortunately to my dismay, the majority of the passengers were on his side. Businesswomen who were simply in a hurry to get to the market. Squeezed, paying high fares and late.
That pretty summed them up. The other 4 passengers were a man and 3 students going back to school (I think). To them, I was more likely a noisy disenfranchised youth (millennial) making noise for them and causing the delay. That was more apathy than I could stomach, knowing full well it’s not my ride! 2023 resolution right there!
Anyway, the conductor changed his tact, apologised for being rude and offered to reduce my fare (a suggestion from the supposed business women).
I gave up the resistance and sat quietly. Guilty of a bribe. I will go fur penance tomorrow. The year 2022 has not begun.