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After serving the
regional public transport industry for over 50 years Akamba Bus Company has
wound up operations due to financial constraints.
regional public transport industry for over 50 years Akamba Bus Company has
wound up operations due to financial constraints.
Sources from Kenya
revealed that Akamba was highly indebted to several financial institutions and
other service providers, who confiscated its buses.
revealed that Akamba was highly indebted to several financial institutions and
other service providers, who confiscated its buses.
However, a source
from the Transport Licensing Board, the watchdog for the transport industry,
said the firm’s management had not yet officially informed them about their
withdrawal from the business.
from the Transport Licensing Board, the watchdog for the transport industry,
said the firm’s management had not yet officially informed them about their
withdrawal from the business.
“We are yet to
communicate to our counterparts in Kenya, the Kenya Transport Licensing Board,
as there is no contact office in Uganda,’ said the source.
communicate to our counterparts in Kenya, the Kenya Transport Licensing Board,
as there is no contact office in Uganda,’ said the source.
The firm ceased
operations about a month ago.
operations about a month ago.
Efforts to reach
the firm’s Kampala manager, Japhet Kimilu, were fruitless as his phone was not
available by the time we went to press.
the firm’s Kampala manager, Japhet Kimilu, were fruitless as his phone was not
available by the time we went to press.
The premises
formerly occupied by Akamba are being rebranded for Easy Coach, which is,
plying the Kampala-Nairobi route.
formerly occupied by Akamba are being rebranded for Easy Coach, which is,
plying the Kampala-Nairobi route.
Akamba is not
alone. Already local public transport operators have silently forfeited their
buses to money lenders after failing to pay back loans.
alone. Already local public transport operators have silently forfeited their
buses to money lenders after failing to pay back loans.
“Many operators
have lost their buses to banks through public auction after failing to pay back
the loans due to increased operational costs,” said one bus owner.
have lost their buses to banks through public auction after failing to pay back
the loans due to increased operational costs,” said one bus owner.
This was during a
recent workshop for public transporters by the transport ministry
recent workshop for public transporters by the transport ministry
Source: New Vision
