Management agencies and public road transport Services in Uganda: A case study of Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association (UTODA)
Abstract
Development and management of public road transport are prerequisites for rapid
economic growth and poverty reduction, as they influence production costs,
employment creation, access to markets and investment. The study focused on the
reviews and analyses of public road transport management in Uganda and other parts
of the world to be able to guide the understanding of the management of public road
transport services in Uganda with particular focused on Kampala Capital City where
public road transport is managed by Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association
(UTODA).
The study believes that the government has facilitated the growth of the public road
transport services in Uganda. However, the government still has a role to play in
ensuring efficiency and effective management of public road transport services by
establishing standards for the private management agencies. There are a number of
problems that challenge the effectiveness and efficiency of a managing body/agency.
These include among others; corruption, failure to observe traffic rules, abuse and
harassment of passengers, uncertainty of transport fares, accidents, so many
employees, no proper and clearly spelt standards, to mention.
The study was carried out on UTODA and emphasis was on management of public
road transport services. The legal and regulatory framework; institutional arrangements,
costs and benefits and the internal capacity of UTODA management were focused on.
The study used a case study research design and both qualitative and quantitative
methods were triangulated in collection and analysis of data. Kampala City and the
surrounding areas were studied in order to generate the relevant and adequate data to
the study. The study analyzed and discussed the findings of the study in order to inform
and improve upon the principal-agent theory on which the study was based. The
recommendations were made to inform policy and legal framework on how the
management of public road transport services can be improved upon.