The Mukono Deputy Resident District Commissioner- Mike Ssegawa has called on boda boda riders to take a more active role in fighting crime.
Instead of just complaining when their fellow riders are attacked or robbed, Ssegawa believes they should work with the police and other security forces to help keep their community safe.
Speaking at the opening of the Pure Flow office in Mukono, which helps people get loans to buy boda bodas, Ssegawa pointed out that riders know their neighbourhoods well.
This local knowledge can be a big help to police if they team up to prevent and solve crimes.
Through their experience and collaboration, boda boda riders can make a real difference in improving safety in their area.
“I implore you people in the bodaboda industry to work jointly with police and all security organs to curb crimes and eliminate all the wrong elements disguising as cyclists to tarnish your work,” Ssegawa explained adding that jointly, the riders can provide reliable information because security doesn’t operate in isolation.
The commissioner further noted that as roads in the Greater Kampala area get better, boda boda riders will find it easier to earn money and invest in other areas of their lives.
According to Gilbert Akabempagi, the operations manager at Pure Flow, criminals have started using tricks to disable the tracking devices on motorcycles.
Despite this, he praised the police for their efforts, saying they have successfully tracked down and recovered many stolen bikes whenever they are asked for help.
“We’ve been in the asset financing business for some time now having started way back in 2007 in Rukungiri with branches in different parts of the country with Mukono being the 11th,” he stated.
Akabempagi added that as technology and crime rates evolve, thieves are now unplugging the tracking devices.
This challenge means that extra effort and new solutions are needed to stay ahead and keep the business running smoothly.
Mukono District Chairperson for boda boda cyclists, Steven Ssekikubo, expressed his appreciation for the Ugandan government’s decision to lower the cost of driving licenses for cyclists from UGX500,000 to UGX100,000.
He explained that this reduction has eased tensions between cyclists, the police, and other road users.
Previously, cyclists were often blamed for accidents they didn’t cause due to lacking driving licenses, forcing them to flee even when they were not at fault.
Ssekikubo also cautioned cyclists about a new danger: thieves who are using chloroform to sedate riders and steal their bikes. He urged everyone to stay vigilant.
Norman Matsiko, the Mukono Branch Manager for Pure Flow, reassured the community that the company aims to provide affordable services focused on genuinely helping clients, unlike other companies that have been known to exploit the community over time.
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