It is a flexible means of transport for both people and goods. It is also relatively cheap and it can go anywhere at anytime in any weather. To the top of hills and over under valleys, the motorcycle has helped many people in Africa to move and communicate, save lives and property.
In Uganda, the boda boda has provided employment for over 2 million Youth who have moved from rural areas to urban areas thus boosting the economic further. The sale of petrol and domestic taxes has also improved due to the increase in boda boda business, not forgetting the improvement of household incomes. The peasants can now buy shoes and good clothes, mobile phones, televisions, etc etc.
However, boda bodas have been a source of escalating crime in Uganda, a thing that for several years now has disturbed President Museveni causing him sleepless nights. The killings of the Sheihks were all done by motorcyclists. The killing of high profile police and military officers were all coordinated and executed using motorcycles. The killings of high profile business and ordinary wanainchi at night with hammers was facilitated by motorcycles.
In the last 3 months, due to Coronavirus, we have seen zero crime related to boda bodas. Some will say it is because of curfew, however motorcycles have never been stopped from operating. They can conduct delivered etc etc but not carry passangers. Why they has motorcycle crime gone to zero? Is there a co relation between the carrying passangers and these criminal elements?
15 years ago, the boda boda business was a mafia dominated business. Clicks of crooked and some honest business men would buy many motorcycles and employ young men to ride them at a weekly fee. It think it was 60,000 Uganda shillings a week. As the business evolved, it was difficult to keep track of the ownership of motorbikes because some cyclists became owners but didn’t have proper documentation because those mafia held on to the documents. Steal of motorcycle began to escalate and with the steal came the killing of cyclists.
Criminal element discovered that boda bodas are a swift way of getting away from crime scenes.. Okutoroka… Kupotea. Thus terrorising innocent wanainchi. This must stop. Hence the need to regulate the boda boda business.
Bodabodas will return but under new regulations. They only ride on specific routes and not go to other areas. Wanainchi will learn which Bodabodas are going where before taking one. This will help in monitoring…. Okuchondoza….. Upelelezi so that we know who is ride where if crime takes place. In the following weeks, the works Ministry together with KCCA…. Minister for Kampala…. And all relevant local authorities will brief the public on the way forward. For the honest cycles, it will be business as usual. From the criminals… Hakuna Mchezo.
Asante.
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