In Summary: Kibale County MP Okwii Constantine has distributed motorcycle tyres to more than 300 boda boda riders, seeking to reduce maintenance costs and improve road safety. The donation comes as a pair of motorcycle tyres reportedly costs up to Shs200,000, with the MP also lobbying for an ambulance for Kibale and other community support initiatives.
Pallisa, Uganda — More than 300 boda boda riders in Kibale County, Pallisa District, have received new motorcycle tyres donated by their area Member of Parliament, Okwii Constantine, in an initiative aimed at easing their operating costs and improving road safety.
The distribution took place on Saturday at the legislator’s upcountry home in Kibale Town Council, where riders from different parts of the county received new sets of tyres.
Okwii said the initiative followed observations he made during his campaigns, when he noticed that many motorcycle operators were using worn-out tyres, increasing their exposure to road accidents, particularly during the rainy season.
“I saw most cyclists with old tyres which had led to numerous accidents, especially in this rainy period. It is not the obligation of a Member of Parliament to provide such items, even ambulances, but it comes out of one’s heart,” Okwii told the beneficiaries.
The legislator said approximately 300 motorcycles had been registered for the exercise, targeting riders who had embraced his message of unity during the campaigns. “I was telling them, let us work together so that we can live together. These cyclists received the message and today they have received the tyres.”
Okwii said the tyre donation was a personal initiative, separate from his efforts to lobby government for broader interventions in the county.
He disclosed that he was pursuing an ambulance for Kibale through the Ministry of Health, with a proposed fuel card to support its operations. He also said he was seeking iron sheets for churches through the Office of the Prime Minister, involving Minister of State for Teso Affairs Dr Ongalo Obote Kenneth.
Riders welcome relief from maintenance costs
The donation is expected to reduce the financial burden on motorcycle operators, who depend on their bikes for daily income.
According to the information provided during the distribution, a pair of motorcycle tyres can cost up to Shs200,000, with a rear tyre going for about Shs120,000 and a front tyre Shs80,000.
Mugaria Innocent, a Kibale Sub-county district councillor, said the intervention would benefit riders and their passengers by improving the condition of motorcycles used for public transport.
“It will be unkind for the beneficiaries to underestimate the service Okwii has offered. Even the boda bodas will now have a heart of not over-squeezing their passengers, knowing that the person they voted for has a stake in their business,” Mugaria said.
Some beneficiaries described the distribution as a significant intervention for boda boda operators, saying they appreciated the MP’s decision to support them after the elections. Several riders reportedly pledged continued support for Okwii, including in the 2031 general elections.
Traffic police caution riders
Meanwhile, Pallisa District Traffic Officer Cheptti Immaculate urged the beneficiaries not to assume that new tyres alone would guarantee their safety on the roads.
She called on riders to observe traffic regulations, wear protective gear and regularly inspect their motorcycles. “Riders should not become complacent simply because they have received new tyres. Road safety requires proper equipment, discipline and responsible behaviour.”
She added that traffic police had intensified routine patrols to apprehend operators who violate road safety regulations, particularly those riding without the required protective gear.
The initiative has brought attention to the economic challenges facing boda boda operators in Kibale, whose motorcycles provide an important transport link between communities and support livelihoods across the county.
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