By Sebastian Bogere
Gulu City, (UG):- More than 6,000 boda-boda riders are operating illegally in Gulu City, the boda-boda association leadership in the Northern Uganda city has revealed.
According to boda-boda leaders, most of the illegal riders operate late in the night in an attempt to dodge formal registration in the respective Gulu City Boda-boda offices.
Emmy Ocen, the Chairman of Gulu City West Boda-boda Association (GCWBBA), a boda-boda association operating in the Bardege-Layibi Division of Gulu City revealed that Gulu City has a total of 15,000 boda-boda riders, and more than quarter of that number are doing business illegally that is equivalent to at least 6,000 in total.
Ocen explained that they identified these culprits using their in-house registration monitoring tool and spies that were able to establish the non-registered riders.
“They mostly operate in the late-night hours so that they are not noticed by the boda-boda leaders of the city, but we are tracking them using our intelligent networks,” he remarked.
Ocen, however, explained that whereas riding at night is not a crime, provided they are not for the purpose of criminality, the night operation by these illegal boda-bodas is not trusted as they are mostly involved in criminal activities including the robbery of motorcycles, money and other properties, killings in attempts to rob riders of their motorcycle among others-that has been happening in the City.
David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa West Police Spokesperson in his reaction on the claims said that the boda-boda association has never on any occasion formally reported any case of illegal operation of some of these illegal riders, unless police nets them during their own(police’s) joint operation over road safety.
Mudong, however, said that in a bid to combat this illegality, the boda-boda Association has to report to the police their findings so that they can work together with the police to help eradicate these wrong crews.
He added that night operation is legal, only that the risk is on the rider who may be a victim of criminals who may rob them of their motorcycles, and kill them among other risks.
“Whereas boda-boda night business is open, it is risky in that it exposes the riders to danger including falling victim to robbers among others” said Mudong.
Mudong said that the police need evidence-based approaches to tackle crime and the boda-boda offices carry high responsibility in realizing that.
Boda-Boda Criminality in the City
According to the information obtained from the association records, a total of 68 motorcycles have so far been lost in the city division since the year began.
Ocen explained that out of the 68, only 28 have been recovered, leaving a deficit of 40 motorcycles that remained untraced by both the security, locals and boda-boda bodies.
“In this month of November, we have lost 10 motorcycles already and none has been recovered yet”, said Ocen.
Boda-boda Riders React on Business Safety
Patrick Omona, one of the bod-boda riders at GCWBBA said that the loss of motorcycles is very rampant in the city in that at least one motorcycle is lost every two days.
Omona explained that they are stolen in many ways, but majorly including three major ones; Safe Ride, using a Master Key and house break-in robbery.
He cautioned his fellow riders to be vigilant and precautions for both motorcycle and traffic safety so that they do not become victims of such since the time is approaching the festive season that is characterized by traffic accidents and urban criminality.
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