Ritah Niwarimpa
The Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe has emerged as a significant transportation hub on Lake Victoria, facilitating tourism, fishing, and local trade. The site is renowned for its ferry services, including the MV Kalangala, which transports passengers, vehicles, and cargo.
According to Agaba Duncan, a porter at the MV Kalangala, the ferry is an affordable mode of transportation. “Using the ferry is the cheapest way of transport since a little sum of money is used,” he says. The ferry offers ordinary and first-class tickets, priced at 10,000 Ugandan shillings and 14,000 Ugandan shillings, respectively.
However, some passengers have raised concerns about the transportation fees. Daphine Akello, a single mother of five, claims that despite the Uganda National Roads Authority’s instructions that the ferry is free, passengers are forced to pay before boarding. “The ferry boarding instructions provided by the Uganda National Roads Authority say that the ferry is free of charge and no payment should be made, but we are made to pay before boarding,” she explains.
Businessmen like Eidit Samson also find the fees burdensome. Samson pays 30,000 Ugandan shillings per kilogram to transport his goods from Entebbe to Kalangala. “This is the most convenient way of transporting my goods… although the fee is high,” he notes. “It would be fair if the money per kilogram could be reduced so that I can also get profits from the business to earn a living.”
Meanwhile, Anguzu Ronald, the ferry captain, highlights the challenges of managing passengers on board. “The hardest thing I have ever encountered in my life is telling old people what to do,” he says. Ronald notes that adults often disregard ferry rules and regulations, such as drinking and smoking on board. He urges the Uganda National Roads Authority to recruit staff to thoroughly check passengers and enforce strict laws against those who break the rules.
The Nakiwogo landing site is a vital economic hub, and its efficient operation is crucial for the local community. Addressing the concerns of passengers and ensuring the safety and affordability of transportation services will be essential for its continued growth and development.
