KAMPALA, UGANDA: Tondeka Metro Company Limited (TMC) has launched its Tondeka Bus services in Kampala after getting full clearance from the Transport and Works Ministry.
The new buses were on Tuesday September 13, 2022 seen packed at City Square in Kampala (initially a stage for the now defunct Pioneer Buses).
The buses which were procured by the government through Kampala Capital City Authority have been put in place to address the overwhelming urban congestion, safety and affordability in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area and beyond.
“The Ministry of Works and Transport has cleared, licenced and declared Tondeka buses fit and safe to transport people in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area,” the bus company tweeted on Tuesday. “We are commencing the city bus service, starting with Ntinda circular as approved by KCCA,” added.
According to one of the passengers who used this service today, the tondeka buses cover routes along Jinja Road, Lugogo, Nakawa, Ntinda, Bukoto, Mulago and Wandegeya with charges of shs1000 which is way less than the charges by taxis plying the same route.
“To answer the affordability question, Tondeka bus charges just 1000 shillings per trip on the route. It’s exciting that the commuters will enjoy seamless free WIFI while on the bus, just imagine that great experience,” one of the managers inside Tondeka Buses told this website.
“Thanks to His Excellency, the President of Uganda and the Government of Uganda through Kiira motors corporation for the tremendous work building the buses as well as the project financing partners Rentco Africa. Enjoy your journey as we turn your miles into smiles, Tondeka transforming mobility,” he added.
Last week, Tondeka Bus Company received five buses from Kiira Motors to start the city transport business as one of the ways to decongest the city.
Another 25 buses are also expected before the year end from Kiira Motors for the same bus company.
A few year ago, President Museveni directed Ministry of Finance to fast track the Tondeka Metro Buses’ Initiative aimed at improving urban transport services in and around the capital city.
A total of 980 Ashok Leyland buses from Hinduja Group- India, were to be imported initially to kick start a safe, reliable and affordable public transport system in metropolitan Kampala.
However, last year, as he commissioned the Kiira Motor plant, the president gave a directive banning the importation of buses into Uganda as a way of supporting the country’s automotive industry.
“No more importing of wholly built vehicles. They wanted to play me a game that African Development Bank has lent us money but I don’t want to hear that. I won’t allow it. These thieves don’t care about others. They only think about their food. I insisted I can’t allow wholly built buses,”Museveni said in August last year.
Tondeka buses were set to start operations with 400 buses initially plying different routes to-and-from city suburbs.
The buses will initially ply Kampala-Mukono on Jinja Road, Kampala- Nsangi on Masaka Road, Kampala- Buloba on Mityana Road, Kampala- Wakiso on Hoima Road , Kampala-Matugga on Bombo Road; Kampala – Entebbe and Kampala- Ggaba.
The buses are expected to help in decongesting the city by replacing taxis and boda bodas.
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