Boda bodas set up teams to fight off criminals
Launched. Mbarara District officer in charge of traffic Goda Katureebe (centre), and boda boda cyclists open Nyakayojo Division boda boda office on Monday. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA
What you need to know:
- Mbarara District officer in charge of traffic Goda Katureebe advised the cyclists to always be observant when people approach them for transportation.
MBARARA. Boda boda cyclists in Mbarara District under their umbrella body Mbarara Municipality General Boda boda Association, have set up a 10-man security team in each of the six divisions as a measure to eliminate criminals in the district.
Speaking at the opening of Nyakayojo Division boda boda offices on Monday, the association chairman, Mr James Arinaitwe, said crimes committed by boda boda riders and assassins disguised as cyclists, have put their business at a risk and members of the public have lost confidence in them.
Mr Arinaitwe said the teams will help monitor behavior of their colleagues and identify the wrong elements.
“We are worried because of people using motorcycles to steal and sometimes our boda boda cyclists kill other people. We are working with security organs... We think this will eliminate the criminals. The association is in the process of issuing identity cards to cyclists so as to get rid of masqueraders, and Boda boda cycyclists who operateat night are required to have reflector jackets.
Other cyclists suggested that every riders should be investigated before they are given a stage in town to operate from so as to guard against wrong elements in the business.
“Government should regulate boda boda operations in the country by investigating people who want to start the business before they are allowed to operate. Many people no longer trust us because of the killings that are happening in the country that are said to be aided or executed by boda boda cyclists,” Mr Aggrey Akatwijuka, one of the cyclists said.
Mbarara District officer in charge of traffic Goda Katureebe advised the cyclists to always be observant when people approach them for transportation.
He said riders must be on the look for those carrying weapons and dangerous tools.
“I advise boda boda riders to always be security conscious. Armed people like using them and at the end of the day their motorcycles are taken or are used to commit crimes unknowingly,” Mr Katureebe said.
