Uganda’s President Museveni to revise directive of stopping boda bodas from working past 2 pm
While addressing the nation on Tuesday, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said he is going to revise the directive prohibiting boda bodas from operating past 2 pm.
According to Museveni, just like it is for bicycle users, boda boda riders should also be allowed to operate at least up to 7 pm, the curfew time.
Museveni who was first to admit that there was no clear reason in stopping boda bodas from operating past that time implied that they will study it again to come up with a conclusion.
“Even the Boda Bodas, I don’t know why we said they should stop at 2:00 PM, we will have to study it again,” Museveni said while addressing the country on coronavirus concerns.
On 8th April, President Museveni ordered all boda boda riders countrywide to ensure they are off the road by 2 pm on a daily as a measure to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Museveni however, explained that he only issued the directive of stopping boda bodas then for security reasons because in recent times many people have used them to do crime and harm others.
He mentioned that such criminal incidents normally happen during the night and as a result he suggested the boda bodas to be left to operate up to at least the curfew time.
“I only decided because they are only dangerous at night, they can be used for crime. But they should be working like bicycles up to the curfew time which is 7 pm. We introduced the curfew to stop movement at night since thieves can sneak into people’s homes.”
Museveni however, re-emphasized that the boda bodas should only carry cargo doing door to door deliveries of food items and not carry passengers like it was witnessed by the Inspector General of Police in a CCTV footage.
He said that if they persist on carrying these passengers then an order to stop them will be taken because it puts not only theirs but the life of many other Ugandans at risk as a result of close contact.
Meanwhile, the Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga has confirmed that the Office of the Prime Minister will be meeting together with many stakeholders to review the movement of boda bodas, bicycles and tuk-tuks beyond 2:00 pm.
But he advised particular stakeholders to continue abiding by the directives and all restrictions in place before new ones are announced on board.
“The Office of the Prime Minister is meeting today together with several stakeholders to review the movement of boda bodas, bicycles and tuk-tuks beyond 2:00 pm. In the meantime the restrictions still stand,” Fred Enanga said.
