Makerere students launch ‘Wakanda shuttle’ to ease transport around University

Written by: 
Crystal Bulungi

 

A group of six students doing masters of Arts in Economic Policy Management have come up with a plan (Wakanda festyle) to offer organised transportation services within the university

Wakanda lifestyle will operate Wakanda branded shuttles that will move between two routes and will operate from 6:30am to 09:30pm on a daily basis targeting the general university students but especially the students.

Samuel Surundu, a member of the Wakanda lifestyle group said the team came up with the idea because of the long distances students move from the university gates to their faculties.

He added that the shuttles will also help during rainy seasons to enable students get to their destinations within the university despite the weather.

During the Entrepreneurship expo on October 12, at Makerere, the group showcased one of the shuttles to be used and demonstrated how a software application will be used to locate the shuttle at a given moment.

According to Miss Viola, Kagujje, also a team member, and in charge of a software application that will help its users to locate the shuttle and get a specific location to wait for it and two drivers will be hired from the university setting   to operate the two shuttles.

"The shuttles will charge a flat fee of Shs500 per trip because the fee expires the moment one disembarks from the shuttle and  a passenger will pay the fee as they enter the shuttle and can get off from anywhere within the university," said Mr Davis Johnson Agaba a member of Wakanda lifestyle .

Makerere university is on a hill in Kampala and covers 350 acres, with the increasing security lapses, the university management installed security check points at all major entrances into the university and put a stop to public transport (taxis and boda bodas) with in the university therefore students have to walk between their places of residence or gate of entry and the colleges.

Despite the failure of similar companies that were offering the same services to survive, the group is determined to overcome any obstacles so as to make it convenient and comfortable as possible to build a brand that students will be loyal to and have sustainability.

"I am happy about the Wakanda lifestyle because it will save me of walking long distances from the entrance gates to my college," said Gloria Tumuhaire a student at school of veterinary medicine.