Taxi drivers, conductors given uniform deadline

Taxi drivers and conductors have been given a 10-day deadline by ATRACO, a taxi operators association, to wear uniforms. Ludovic Twahirwa Dodo, the president of Atraco, said in a phone interview yesterday that the move is aimed at making them easily identified by commuters and police for security purposes.

Sunday, January 10, 2010
THE OTHER ONE: A taxi conductor shows a potential commuter his taxi. He will now be required to wear a grey uniform

Taxi drivers and conductors have been given a 10-day deadline by ATRACO, a taxi operators association, to wear uniforms.

Ludovic Twahirwa Dodo, the president of Atraco, said in a phone interview yesterday that the move is aimed at making them easily identified by commuters and police for security purposes.

"There have been problems of theft among conductors and drivers. So we thought this will help the police and the commuters to easily recognize them in case of misconduct,” said Dodo.

However, some of those affected said that money charged on the uniform is so high that they cannot afford it.
The uniforms cost Rwf5,500.

"This amount is high for us, yet the Rwf12, 000 we paid last year was wasted over poor quality uniforms they made for us,” said one of the conductors who preferred not to be named.

Dodo said that the person who won the tender presented better quality material and that that was the lowest price among all bidders.

Taxi drivers will wear green uniforms while conductors will don grey ones. 

Ends