Bodaboda Riders Annoyed over Stage Closures Ahead of Swearing-in Ceremony

Bodaboda cyclists operating in Kira Municipality, Wakiso district have expressed dismay over the closure of their stages until the end of the presidential swearing-in ceremony.

At least four stages have been closed off in Kira, allegedly to avert a possible eruption of chaos from groups that may protest the outcome of the election which have President Yoweri Museveni, another  term of office. The stages that were temporarily closed include the Kireka police stage with 50 members, the super deal stage Kyaliwajjala with 50 members, the Kira-Kayembe stage with 40 members, and the Bweyogerere avocado stage with about 30 members.  

The closure was effected by a team led by the Residential District Commissioner Isaac Kawonawo and the Police Division commander Abbas Sserunjonji after a meeting with the Kira Municipality Bodaboda rider’s leaders at their offices in Kyaliwajjala last week. It also followed two incidents in which persons travelling on motorcycles hurled petrol bombs at moving vehicles in the area.

The first incident was reported by one Shafic Mubiru, who was driving a vehicle registration number UAJ 320S along the railway crossing at Kireka Trading Centre, amidst a traffic gridlock. while the second occurred around the same time at Jinja Road towards Kireka, when a group attacked Rose Kyasimire, who was also driving through the traffic on the usually congested highway. 

Now Meddie Mwavu the chairperson of Kira Municipality Boda-boda riders said they were asked to inform all members who have been gathering on closed stages to stay away until the end of the presidential swearing-in ceremony.

But Sserwadda Muhammad, a boda-boda rider at one of the stages said that most cyclists who were allegedly plotting violence and other criminal actions are not registered to operate within Kira municipality.  Hamuza Mubiru alias Kabaya, another rider at Bweyogerere avocado stage said the closure of their stages has affected their daily earnings, yet many are surviving on loans. 

But Odobo Kisa, the Secretary of Kira Municipality Bodaboda riders said that although their members are unhappy, this also presents an opportunity for them to clean up and rid the area of all criminal elements hiding within their operations.

Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said that security agencies have anticipated disruptive activities before, during and after the swearing-in of the president. “Some of these disruptions we anticipate include use of petrol bombs, acts of sabotage, like blocking roads, burning tyres stoning government vehicles and other disruptive activities, such activities cannot be allowed said Enanga” 

URN