Tondeka Metro Bus Service

The Tondeka Metropolitan Kampala Bus Service, is the proposed principal public transport operator in the Kampala metropolitan area. Expected to start in September 2020, the bus system, Tondeka Metro, proposes to serve the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital, the city of Entebbe, including Entebbe International Airport, Buloba, Nsangi, Ssabagabo, Mukono, Kira Town, Matugga, Wakiso, and the areas in Mukono District and Wakiso District that connect with these urban centers.[1][2]

Tondeka Metro Bus Service
Overview
LocaleKampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda
Transit typeBus service
Number of linesIn development
Number of stationsIn development
Chief executivePeter Kimbowa
Executive Chairman
HeadquartersKampala, Uganda
WebsiteHomepage
Operation
Began operationSeptember 1, 2020 (2020-09-01) (Expected)
Operator(s)Tondeka Metro Limited
Technical
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Tondeka Metro Bus Service
Location within Kampala
General information
Coordinates00°18′44″N 32°34′37″E

History

The Kampala metropolitan area (Kampala, Entebbe, Wakiso District and Mukono District) had a total population of approximately four million residents according to the August 2014 national population census.[3] More than half of this total pour onto the narrow roads leading to Kampala city center to go to work, school, hospitals, court, banks or to access other government or private services. This leads to gridlock on the city streets and roads as commuter taxis (kamunye), motorcycle taxis (boda boda), private automobiles, street hawkers, pedestrians and VIP convoys jostle for space.[4]

System

The major stake holders in a modern, functional, sustainable, public transit system in Kampala's metropolitan area have come together and propose a bus system starting with 980 commuter buses, procured new from the manufacturers, Ashok Leyland, in India.[1][4][5]

Stakeholders

The major stakeholders in Tondeka Metro Bus Service include, but are not limited to the following:[1][4][5]

Major Stakeholders In Tondeka Metro Bus Service Project
RankName of StakeholderDescription
1Office of the President of Uganda
The President has directed the Ministry of Finance to prioritize the funding of the Tondeka Metro initiative.
2Ugandan Ministry of Works and Transport
Lead Government agency in harmonizing planning
3Kampala Capital City Authority
Lead government agency in execution and implementation, including the assignment of routes, bus stages and parking
4Kiira Motors Corporation
Potential suppliers of electric buses in future expansion stages of the project
5Taxi Owners' Associations
Will become co-owners in the business and relocate their commuter taxis to other cities and towns or sell them to other investors who will relocate them
6Taxi drivers, conductors and stage touts
Will be given priority when hiring bus drivers, bus conductors and bus terminal managers
7Mukono District Administration and Wakiso District Administration
Will licence the business to operate in their jurisdictions and share in the revenue of the business together with Kampala Capital City Authority, through taxation
8Other local administration governments including Kira Town, Mukono City, Entebbe City, Nansana, Ssabagabo, Kajjansi and others
Need to facilitate the passage of commuter buses through their jurisdictions, including the designation of bus stages
9Uganda Police Force
The Road Traffic Division of the Uganda Police Force enforces traffic rules and regulations
10The travelling public
They are expected to benefit from less congested roads and streets, with faster, affordable and safer trips. Even those who do not use public transport will benefit due to less congested roads.
11Uganda National Roads Authority
Will need to repair some roads, widen some to accommodate the large buses and also build new roads
12Other stakeholders

Routes

As of January 2020, the following bus routes are suggested, to start with:[1][2]

Proposed Routes of Tondeka Metro Bus Service
RankFromToDistance One Way
1KampalaMukono25 kilometres (16 mi)[6]
2KampalaNsangi18 kilometres (11 mi)[7]
3KampalaBuloba[8]19.5 kilometres (12 mi)
4KampalaWakiso21 kilometres (13 mi)[9]
5KampalaMatugga19 kilometres (12 mi)[10]
6KampalaEntebbe Airport41 kilometres (25 mi)[11]
7KampalaGgaba12 kilometres (7 mi)[12]

Fare structure

On 11 December 2019, The Post Media Limited (PML Daily) online publication reported that a single route is expected to cost USh1,200 (approx. US$0.33); unlimited daily travel to cost USh3,500 (approx. US$1.00); Shs18,000 (approx. US$5.00) for a weekly card and Sh55,000 (approx. US$15.00) for a monthly travel card.[1] Passengers are expected to pay using Radio Frequency Identification Cards (rfid-Cards) to swipe their way on board, with no cash payment allowed on the bus.[1][5]

Hours of operation

The organizers of the Tondeka Metro Bus Service are planning to have the buses run 24/7, with provisions for people with disabilities and pregnant mothers.[1]

Funding

The funding modalities have not been finalized. At a minimum, both the Uganda Government through the Ministry of Finance and high net-worth individuals who own fleets of commuter taxis and motorcycle taxis are expected to fund the project as a public-private partnership enterprise.[1][5] The initial investment is reported to be US$200 million (USh737.9 billion).[2]

Expansion plans

The initial shipment of 400 buses in September 2020 is expected to be followed by 200 buses the following month and every month thereafter until the total comes to 980 buses. If and when the initial project succeeds, more buses will be imported to expand the project to other areas of the Kampala metropolis.[1][5]

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See also

References
  1. Nelson Mandela (11 December 2019). "Cashless Tondeka Metro buses to improve mobility in Kampala, expected to hit roads in 9 months time". Kampala: PML Daily. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. Jalira Namyalo (21 November 2019). "City to get new bus transport system". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2018). "Uganda Population: Administrative Divisions: Regions and Districts". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  4. Amos Ngwomoya and Derrick Wandera (22 March 2018). "How is traffic jam in Kampala being addressed?". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  5. Javira Ssemwanga (31 January 2020). "We shall not fight Tondeka Metro buses! Taxi drivers, other public transport stakeholders endorse new system". Kampala: PML Dailly. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  6. Globefeed.com (31 January 2020). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Mukono, Mukono District, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  7. Globefeed.com (31 January 2020). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Nsangi, Wakiso District, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  8. Google (25 July 2020). "Road Distance Between Kampala and Buloba" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  9. Globefeed.com (31 January 2020). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Wakiso, Wakiso District, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. Globefeed.com (31 January 2020). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Matugga, Wakiso District, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. Globefeed Uganda (31 January 2020). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Entebbe Airport, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. Globefeed.com (31 January 2020). "Distance between Central Kampala, Uganda and Ggaba, Makindye Division, Kampala, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
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