KAMPALA, UGANDA: The State Minister for Kampala, Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye has revealed that Government is set to register all boda boda riders in Kampala for purposes of identification and sanity in the city.
The Minister revealed this Friday while addressing journalists in Kampala saying the process is to ensure that each boda boda rider has a specific stage where they operate from, and failure to get registered will amount to eviction from the city.
“In an inter-ministerial committee comprising the Kampala Ministry, Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Security, Ministry of Local government, police, and representative from boda boda associations, it has been resolved that KCCA gazettes boda boda stages within Kampala and the leadership of these stages should be formalized and known. Any stage that shall not be gazette will be illegal,” said Minister Kyofatogabye.
Adding that the meeting also agreed to the need for training of boda boda riders in collaboration with Police, KCCA, and the Uganda Driving Standards Agency.
“Collaborate with police and Uganda Driving Standards Agency to ensure boda boda operators are tested and issued with driving licences upon completion of training.”
As part of this process, therefore, the minister said all boda boda riders operating in the five divisions of Kampala will be registered and given identification jackets which are unique to each division as well as QR codes and their pictures well displayed on their backs for easy identification.
“The reflective jackets will identify a boda boda operator with the stage and division they operate from. Only operators that have been registered will be allowed to operate in the city.”
He explained that boda boda riders are supposed to register at stage level with stage committees which will later ensure registration at the division level.
According to the minister, in order to be registered, a boda boda rider will be required to present a copy of their National ID.
He said that whereas the process of registration kicks off next month on March 1 2022, effective July, 1, 2022, all those who will not have registered will find a hard time operating in Kampala.
“If you don’t want to register yourself, find your level away from Kampala and it will not be a subject for discussion.”
The minister said government will also look at having one bodaboda association just like it is with taxi drivers.
In the past, government has initiated boda boda registration process as well as having proper leadership, these efforts have on all occasions been frustrated by several groups of people with interests in the boda boda business.
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