By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Boda boda riders operating in Mbale city have asked police to extend the period of permit operation.
Last week, police launched an operation on boda boda riders who are operating without permits countrywide and in Mbale city over 50 have been arrested with their motorcycles impounded according to police.
According to Twakha Wanagali, a boda boda rider operating from KCB bank stage, the Shs 50,000 to 100,000 fee they are supposed to pay before processing a permit is too high.
He adds that some riders have families and other responsibilities which can’t match their daily income so it’s hard to save money for processing rider’s permit.
Mwambu Mwalye from Nkoma stage the welcomed the government demand for every boda boda rider to have a permit but says they would have been given like five months to process.
He adds that the fee they are supposed to pay is too high to an ordinary rider suggesting that the fee be reduced to Shs10,000.
Most riders this reporter interviewed say the current enforcement is going to push them away from the business which may cause insecurity since most youths have been employed by Boda Boda motorcycles.
However, Rogers Taitika, the Elgon police spokesperson has urged the Boda Boda riders to embrace the exercise saying it is to their advantage.
He adds that the operation came as a result of increased road accidents caused by Boda Boda riders due ignorance on road safety measures and road signs.
Taitika says that police wants all Boda Boda riders to acquire enough skills before getting permits to reduce on road carnage.
