In the previous address to the nation about COVID-19, President Museveni authorized Boda Bodas to resume their official operation on 27th July 2020. Boda Boda riders had to follow strict guidelines in the abid to control the spread of the novel #coronavirus.
Despite President Museveni’s official announcement, the Ministry of Transport working with KCCA made a decree that Boda Bodas are not allowed to operate in the city centre come 27th July 2020.
Conversely, most of the excited riders did not get the abrupt notice since it was passed on a weekend.
On Monday morning, the anxious motorcyclists rode to the Kampala city centre, only to start running battles with the police.
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga tweeted that blocking motorcycles from operating in town is irrational. The Boda Boda Freezone restricts many people especially civil servants and private people running day to day errands.
‘‘Has the statutory instrument been gazetted? Not every motorcycle is a Boda Boda, some are civil servants and others are owned by private individuals’’. Rebecca Kadaga explained on her social media page.
Last week while President Museveni was restarting the Boda Boda business, he made it clear that every rider must obtain a book to register particulars of their clients for easier tracking in the event that a person tests positive for COVID -19.
Hundreds of Boda Bodas started off their long-awaited duties with a lot of vigour only to be calmed down by the adamant passengers.
Most Customers refused to register with their National Identification Numbers- NIN and phone numbers. They claimed that this is personal information that they cannot keep sharing with strangers such as the Boda Boda riders.
However, most Boda operators have instead blamed their customers for rigidity. The overwhelming resistance from passengers is making their work impossible even on the first day, yet these hardworking men are only following the stipulated Coronavirus measures.
Boda-boda riders in the sub-urban areas of Kampala claim their customers insisted on being carried without taking their records.
Others claim that their gravest challenge per now is getting information from ladies. The female customers have completely refused to say that since these riders are males, they can disrupt their marriages by calling at night while they are with their husbands.
"These Boda guys have a tendency of calling deep in the night. When you ask why they have called, they say I have called to check on you dear.” A defiant lady told our reporter in Bugolobi.
Nothing seems to work when it comes to Boda Bodas and their regulations from the Government. By Monday evening; the Boda Boda Free Zone didn't seem to hold, most cyclists were seen zooming past the powerless traffic police officers stationed on Jinja road.
Social media was abuzz with news feeds that the government had caved in to the mounting pressure and dropped the ban on Boda Bodas accessing the Kampala Central Business District.
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