Boda-boda operators fight over Museveni Shs10 million pledge

President Yoweri Museveni

ADJUMANI. A sharp rift has emerged among the boda boda operators in Adjumani District over Shs10 million donated by President Museveni.
The money was pledged by the President to help the boda boda association Saccos to boost their income.
The boda boda operators accuse the district boda boda association chairperson, Mr Yassin Daudi and treasurer Grant Mateso of allegedly using the fund for their personal gain.
But the accused chairperson, Mr Yassin, blames the members for not attending meetings in which matters concerning the money are discussed, saying the money is in safe hands.

New association
Due to the disagreement, some of the boda boda operators in the newly-created Adjumani East County have since formed a de facto association based at Pakelle Town Board to counter the main association.
The chairperson on Wednesday said the operation of a newly-formed association is illegal, adding that they would take punitive measures against such illegality.
The leadership of the newly-formed association vows to take legal action against the officials of greater Adjumani boda boda association.
Mr Godfrey Luzira, the secretary of the association, said they resolved in a meeting held on May 7 to a organise demonstration to express their dissatisfaction.

“The leaders have resorted to intimidating the members of the association once they are asked about the money, leave alone disclosing to us even the account number,” he said.
Mr Luzira said they are petitioning the office of district NRM chairperson and RDC to intervene in the matter to recover the money from corrupt hands.
Mr Yassin and Grant Mateso, the association treasurer, are said to have used the money for procurement of spare parts for the former’s car and erecting a kiosk for the latter.
Mr Mateso denied the allegation, vowing to take legal action against those peddling it.

Mr Mahmoud Baruku, a boda boda cyclist in Adjumani, also decried the failure by the officials to operationalise the Sacco.
“We need the money but the officials have failed to put it in proper use,” Mr Baruku said.
President Museveni, in an Operation Wealth Creation tour of the district last year, donated Shs30 million for Saccos of boda boda, nurses and teachers, each taking Shs10 million respectively.