Boda Boda men in Kampala town have opposed a move to displace them from their Stages. The move came as a directive from General Jim Muhwezi, the cabinet minister for security through a letter dated July 27, 2023 .
In this letter Muhwezi directed that boda riders vacate places along the Nile Avenue , Parliamentary Avenue and Serena.
Moses Mukasa , a boda rider from the stage at Serena noted that there existence has caused no harm so far . Infact he noted that it is customers to the Hotel that call for them often. “He should tell us why he wants us to vacate . We have never caused any problem ,those customers in there actually park their cars and opt to use bodas often.”
Lawrence Kiyimba also from one of the affected stages pointed out that sudden directives without clear regulation have affected their business. “We only stage where we do because clients need us . There is a lot of traffic on the town streets and many people find it convenient to access us there when in need.”
Erias Lukwago, the Lord Mayor Kampala City Council Authority welcomed the initiative. However he raised concern for clear regulation on boda Boda operations within the city . “We look forward to where we can have clearly written out directions of designated stages for motorcars, motorcycles and trains and among others as a way of ordering our city .”
Salim Muhuru, the Mayor for Kampala said that the boda riders needed to first of all be engaged before the decision being taken .
Leaders in Kampala City have been trying to organise the transport system, especially boda riders but not of the arrangements so far have been a success. Boda Boda is one of the commonest means of transport used in Kampala City, to navigate the heavy traffic on roads.