Police have warned bodaboda riders against road violence and bribing traffic police officers whenever they are caught flouting regulations.
Speaking at the Safe Way Right Way road safety sensitization workshop in Busega, Geoffrey Ojambo, the Officer in charge of Busega Police Station said bodaboda riders are found of engaging in unnecessary fights.
Ojambo noted that several people have been injured or even killed by bodaboda riders who at all times think their member is right even when they are wrong. He cited an example of a man whose vehicle was last week destroyed by bodaboda riders on Masaka road yet it was clear that it was the rider who knocked the car.
“Violence is too much on the road. If an issue has happened, kindly don’t turn yourselves into judges. How can you chase a driver from Masaka Road to Busega? We had to fire bullets and tear gas to save his life. However, the vehicle was already destroyed,” Ojambo said.
Two years ago, a retired UN driver was beaten to death in Lubaga after his vehicle hit a bodaboda rider and he fell down. Police working with the CCTV team and Crime Intelligence (CI) arrested seven bodaboda riders who were charged with murder.
Ojambo also warned bodaboda riders against concealing criminals at their stages. He urged the riders to be a source of intelligence by reporting all suspicious persons in the sector especially those who use their bikes to rob people. Riders have also been cautioned against interfering with police work.
Traffic Police Spokesperson, Michael Kananura said bodaboda riders have failed to have simple things like wearing a crash helmet and driving licenses. Kananura explained that many commercial motorcycle riders rush to offer bribes to traffic police officers so that their bikes can be released and afterward accuse the force of being corrupt.
Kananura urged chairpersons of bodaboda stages not to allow their colleagues who ride in sandals and those who abuse drugs and move with Waragi bottles in their jackets.
“How do you allow people to drive in sandals? Why do you allow drug abusers, and drunkards at your stages? You have people who do not shower, they do not wash their clothes. As leaders, at your stages you should ensure these rules are respected,” SP Kananura said.
Abdullahim Kirabira, bodaboda rider leader in Lubaga, said many riders spent a lot of time on things that do not develop them. “Many of us spend a lot of time on things that do not matter to us. You find people fighting and you park there to watch for two hours. You find drivers in a fight and you join without considering who is in the wrong,” Kirabira said.
Michael Kamoga, a road safety officer at the Ministry of Works, said bodaboda riders must have two crash helmets. According to Kamoga, each commercial motorcycle must have a helmet for the rider and one for the passenger.
“When you buy a motorcycle, it comes with a helmet. You should also buy one for the passenger. Like a vehicle where a passenger finds the seatbelt, even bodaboda riders must have two crash helmets,” Kamoga said.
Susan Tumuhairwe, Safe Way Right Way Programmes Coordinator said every rider should ensure he has a crash helmet at all times. Wearing crash helmets, Tumuhairwe said reduces head damage.
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