BY DAVID MAFABI
KAMPALA
KCCA has started a census for Boda Bodas in Kampala today 15 August, Monday.
A notice by KCCA says all boda bodas operating in the city are to be enumerated during an exercise to take place at selected centres in the city.
“Riders should come with dully filled application forms available at the census centres, national identity card, letters from LC and Parish Internal Security Officer and copies of the motorcycle logbooks,” the notice reads in part seen by East News.
According to the notice, the exercise will run every day for 15 days up to 30 August, 2022 between 8am and 5pm.
“Riders shall apply and be counted in their respective divisions of operation. For riders who registered with the RCCs, this exercise will require them to update and re-validate the information provided,” It adds further.
Authorities say the exercise is free and for all riders and motorcycle owners to participate and will be held in Kawempe, Makerere Yellow Primary School, Kawempe Mbogo Primary School, Mpererwe C.O.U Primary School and St.Paul Kyebando Primary School, Nakawa as centers for the census.
And that Boda Bodas in Central division will go to Bat Valley Primary School, Old Kampala, Secondary School whereas in Makindye the exercise will be carried out at Officers’ Mess, Lukuli Play Ground and Kansanga Seed School Playground while in Lubaga division, the exercise will be carried out at the division gardens.
The registration being done by KCCA and Ministry for Kampala and RCCs requires riders to register right from their respective stages, parishes and then divisions.
This registration comes at the time government is insisting that in a few months to come, it will be mandatory that for any rider to operate in the city, they must have registered and got trained.
The Prime Minister Ms Robinah Nabanja while speaking at the launch of the registration of Boda Boda exercise at Kiira Road police grounds in Kamwokya in Kampala in July said only registered and trained boda boda riders shall be allowed to operate in Kampala.
Ms Nabbanja urged riders to shun negative voices discouraging them from registering and training, saying it is through this exercise that they shall be able to formalize their operations in the city.
Ms Nabbanja said the purpose of the training and registration is to organize the industry, ensure that riders are knowledgeable about their job, and eliminate wrong elements who use boda bodas to engage in theft, robbery, and murders.
KCCA is working on a bill to guide the operations of public transport and the bill proposes registration of riders in Kampala, gazetting and allocation of stages, and licensing of the riders.
The political leadership at KCCA led by the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago is opposed to the ongoing exercise, saying it is not guided by law and that the fees being paid for training are not recognized anywhere in the City Authority.
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