KCCA extends boda boda census
KCCA has extended the Boda Boda Census programme rolled out in mid August, to register all riders. Unlike the ongoing registration, this one is free of charge and one is only required to carry a National Identity card, LC letter, as well as evidence of ownership of the motorcycle.
Under this census, all motorcycles and boda bodas are supposed to participate, irrespective of the current registration by Resident City Commissioners (RCC) across divisions of Kampala.
According to KCCA, the exercise is meant to enhance the safety and security of riders and their passengers, to establish an online database, flush out mushrooming ungazetted stages among others.
Speaking on Thursday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the KCCA Deputy Executive Director Eng. David Luyimbazi said there has been an influx in the numbers of boda boda riders seeking registration.
He noted that the number of people flocking registration centres at the last minute and limited staff have compelled KCCA to extend the deadline to 16th September.
Luyimbazi said that since many of their registration centres were located at schools that are soon re-opening, the registration centres will be shifted to the respective five Divisions of Kampala.
Luyimbazi added that the boda boda industry is not cohesively regulated by KCCA and is relying on ad hoc groups regulated by the operators.
KCCA extends boda boda census
According to KCCA records, 20,000 motorcycles have so far been registered, with an estimate of 3,000 boda bodas registered daily from all the five divisions of Kampala.
The exercise followed a directive by the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, to regulate the transport industry in Kampala. The exercise was initially supposed to run for 14 days until 1st September, targeting all riders.
Andrew Kamya, a boda boda rider operating at Namugoona, Mivule stage, told our reporter Minah Nalule that he is pleased with the extension because the numbers at centres deter them from work yet they must fend for their families.
Kamya said he was forced to ditch the system after lining up severally for up to six hours without registration.
“Most of my colleagues have also been unable to register because we are looking for school fees, like you see most schools have increased fees and we cannot stand for hours waiting to register. So we are grateful to KCCA,” Kamya said
Another rider identified as Peter Kasule, operating at the Mulago stage said he is opposed to the ongoing registration at KCCA where they have to pay UGX60,000.
“We are many, we will not register because we don’t have money and the exercise will not do anything, let them slash the money, the economy is tight why do they want to milk us, Let us go back to the system where we are managed at stages not as a whole,” he said.
The State Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, has previously emphasised that there shall be only 32 stages in the Central Business District of Kampala with at most 50 riders per stage. The Minister said the guidelines were non-negotiable except when riders come with an amendment.
According to the government, the move is seen as a wider plan to operationalise the boda boda free zone, an area in which no passenger motorcycles shall be allowed.
The boda boda free zone is supposed to run along the boundaries of Wampewo roundabout-Jinja road to Kitgum house junction – Access road – Mukwano road to Clock Tower – Kafumbe Mukasa road – Kisenyi road – Mackay road – Kyaggwe road – Watoto Church – Bombo road – Wandegeya – Hajji Musa Kasule road – Mulago roundabout – Kamwokya junction – Sturrock road – Prince Charles Drive – Lugogo Bypass.
This is not the first time KCCA is making plans to organise the Boda Boda industry. In 2013, there was a move to register riders but it failed following opposition from some political leaders and Boda Boda groups.
