Boat transporters at Wanseko and Panyimur landing sites in Buliisa and Pakach districts have increased their transport fares following the suspension of the Wanseko-Panyimur ferry operations.
In July, Uganda National roads Authority-UNRA suspended the operations of the Wanseko-Panyimur ferry after water levels at its docking pier at Wanseko landing site drastically reduced and could not allow its effective landing.
The Albert Nile ferry plies the 12-nautical-mile route from Panyimur in Pakwach District to Wanseko in Buliisa District twice a day.
The ferry is also the major link for regional towns like Hoima, Kigorobya, Masindi, Biiso, Buliisa, Kikuube, and Wanseko in Bunyoro in the Albertine, and Panyimur, Dei, Pakwach, Nebbi, Paidha, and Arua in West Nile and the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC.
The suspension of the ferry services is a sigh of relief to boat transporters both in Buliisa and Pakwach who have now got opportunity to transport people that initially used the ferry. The transporters have hiked their transport fares charging passengers exorbitantly.
Currently passengers crossing from Wanseko landing site in Buliisa to Panyimur fish market in Pakwach have to pay between shillings 10,000 to 20,000 yet initially when the ferry was operational, a passenger would only pay shillings 5000 to cross to either side.
James Katulinde,a resident of Wanseko says leaders currently water transport has become too expensive following the suspension of the ferry services. He wants UNRA to expedite the process of repairing the docking pier in order for passengers to be relieved from paying a lot of money.
Mugema Tumwine, a passenger who was found at Wanseko landing site says most people are failing to afford the current transporter fares being charged by the boat transporters.
Patrick Okaba, a boat transporter at Wanseko landing site says the suspension of the ferry services had given them a sigh of relief since their business is booming unlike when the ferry is operational.
He however says they were compelled to increase the transport fares following the sky rocketing fuel prices that has hit the entire country.
Fred Lukumu, the Buliisa LCV Chairperson says it is true the boat transporters are taking advantage pf the suspension of the ferry services to over charge passengers.
Norah Bigirwa, the Buliisa Woman Member of parliament calls on the residents and passengers to be calm as UNRA is doing anything possible to fix the problem.
UNRA officials have pitched camp at the Wansko landing site constructing a new docking pier for the ferry.
An official from Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA who was found at Wanseko landing site and spoke to URN on condition of anonymity says repairing a new docking pier will last for more three more weeks of beyond.
