The rowdy Boda Boda owners and cylists closed various roads leading in and out of Kampala using stones and igniting fires in the middle of roads hence causing heavy traffic jam.

This forced police to fire teargas and live bullets in order to disperse the chaotic men especially on roads such as Namirembe road, Mengo, Bakuli among other roads.

It is reported that traffic police arrest cyclists and impound their motorcycles with no good reason and always made to pay huge amounts of money like Shs100,000 in order to retain the motorcycles.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire, said, “the money collected from the cyclists as fines is given to URA” he added “the cyclists are arrested because they lack driving permits, use the wrong side of the road as well as ride along  pavements.” He advised the cyclists to always inform the police instead of rioting about such issues. He also noted that a number of people have been arrested during these riots.

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Rugunda said 95% of the road accidents could be prevented if only the people followed the road traffic regulations.

The Premier made the remarks while meeting a cross section of stakeholders on road safety who were led by Alex Ruhunda, Member of Parliament for Fort Portal Municipality and Member of Parliamentary Forum on road safety at the Office of the Prime Minister .

“The weaknesses and loopholes in the implementation of these measures need to be addressed,” said the Premier.

Ruhunda noted that it is time the government drew a roadmap for establishing the National Road Safety Authority, adding that all relevant laws should be expedited and brought to Parliament.

The head of Accident and Emergency at Mulago hospital, Dr Alex Bangirana said boda boda (Motocycle Taxi) injuries account for up to 50% of the road traffic crashes.

According to Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative (UHVI), use of helmets reduces the risk of severe head injury by 69% and risk of fatality by 42% while the annual crime and Police report, estimates that 18,368 crashes were recorded in 2013, while 19,870 were recorded in 2012.

Another study carried out by researchers from Uganda Christian University and Makerere University(2014), involving 1600 boda boda riders in Kawempe and central divisions of Kampala estimates that 55% of Boda Boda  riders had ever been involved in an accident.

The research also revealed that it costs up to 7 million shillings to treat cyclists with serious injuries and that the economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Uganda was estimated at US$3.6 million (about 9 billion shillings) annually.

Research also indicates that Uganda is among the seven African countries responsible for 64% of all road deaths. Others are Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011-2020 the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety.’

Other road safety stakeholders represented at the meeting were; Safe Way Right Way Uganda, Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative, Mulago hospital Accident and Emergency centre, Crossroads and Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

Dr. Rugunda as well paid tribute to health workers and the Uganda Police Force for their role in saving lives of road accident victims.

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Bogere’s body was dissected into two by the train and they were all on a boda boda registration number UDT521A.

An eye witness says that the boda boda cyclist was stopped by an instructor holding a red flag but the rider insisted on moving ahead.

The traffic officer at the scene Inspector Wambasho Israel appeals to the public to always follow guide lines issued by traffic police.

He adds that if they had been followed the traffic regulations, this accident wouldn’t have occurred.

Meanwhile, well wishers have accused the Police for not being there on time to help the other two injured people.

They forced the traffic officers at the scene including Inspector Wambasho Israel to carry the remains of the completely crushed body of Bogere.

Ultimate Media

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Police wants good vehicles only

The police also want to use the operation to force the boda boda riders to pay taxes for the machines and the drivers to observe the traffic laws, rules and regulations.

The development follows complaints by Uganda Revenue Authority officials and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) that they have lost billions of shillings in tax evasion by the motorists and drivers in greater Kampala.

But the drivers and boda boda riders we have interviewed have, however, accused the police of mistreating them whenever they launch crackdown on their machines.

The policemen and government officials who have motorcycles and vehicles hide theirs during the crackdown. The police say that they will continue with the exercise for one month.

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Speaking to journalists at their offices today, the chairman of the riders for Kampala districts, Kagimu Sharif Twaha confirms to his subjects that the allegation moving around are false confirming that the ED is only willing to have their industry stream lined to ensure proper service delivery.

However, Kafeero Atanansi who is the chairman central division pins a section of the government authorities for being behind the move geared at destabilizing the industry.

The riders are also condemning the on going murders by those whom they say once ruled the body and were thrown out of leadership whom they demand police to arrest.

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boda boda riuders

This according to the survey carried out by crane survey on 694 boda boda riders in Kampala of which 68% were married and 56% had fathered children.

The survey released to boda boda leaders in Kampala at Fairway hotel did not compare with earlier studies since HIV among boida boda riders had never been studied.

The project coordinator Crane survey George Muwonge Lubwama said that 79% of the boda boda riders interviewed have ever used a condom and 3% had sold sex to women.

Muwonge called for HIV Prevention education programmes targeting boda boda riders in Kampala to reduce on the number of boda boda riders getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The report also indicates that 4% of boda boda riders in Kampala are engaged in homosexuality.

At 7.5%, the boda boda community is more prone to HIV infection, compared to the national HIV prevalence average of about 6.7%.

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