Kiryandongo boda boda riders decry rampant motorcycle theft

Kiryandongo: Boda boda riders in Kigumba Town Council, Kiryandongo District, have raised concerns over increasing motorcycle theft, saying the vice is undermining their income and threatening their livelihoods.

The concerns were raised during a boda boda stakeholders’ engagement held in Kigumba this week, attended by political leaders and government officials, where Member of Parliament Jacob Karubanga Ateenyi donated two motorcycles to the local boda boda association to support its income-generating activities.

Kigumba Town Council Mayor Faruk Tumusiime said the boda boda industry in the town was organised into groups recognised by district authorities, enabling riders to operate in a coordinated manner.

He, however, identified motorcycle theft as a major challenge affecting the sector.

“Boda boda riders in Kigumba have created a good working environment with security, but theft of motorcycles is still a big challenge to their income,” Tumusiime said.

The mayor added that the association had broader development plans, including investing in rental estates, which he said demonstrated efforts to move beyond transport services into other income-generating ventures.

Karubanga donates two motorcycles

Speaking at the meeting, Karubanga said the boda boda association had made progress since he donated motorcycles to the group during his previous term.

He revealed that the association had obtained a National Identification Number (NIN), purchased a plot of land and constructed an office using proceeds from its activities.

“Today I have bought other two motorcycles to the association which I have handed over,” Karubanga said, drawing cheers from the riders.

He urged members to use the motorcycles responsibly to strengthen the association’s income and sustain its activities.

Karubanga also pledged to organise a benchmarking visit to Rwanda for the association’s leadership to learn about boda boda management and operations.

He acknowledged the contribution of boda boda riders to his political career, saying their support had played a role in securing his parliamentary seat.

“Boda boda helped me to secure back the parliament seat, but the support boda boda provided was the best to protect the votes,” he said.

The legislator also called for improved road infrastructure in Kigumba, arguing that the poor state of roads was slowing the town’s development.

He urged residents to cooperate with leaders and focus on development following the conclusion of the elections.

Government promises more road works

A representative of Minister of State for Transport Fred Byamukama said the minister had been unable to attend the meeting because he was reportedly assigned official duties in Dubai by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The representative said he had been sent to supervise roads in Kigumba Town Council, which has approximately 67 kilometres of roads.

He said the government was expected to provide Shs300 million for road maintenance, adding that the minister had indicated that additional funding would be made available.

“The Minister worked on 2.5 kilometres and more four kilometres will be tarmacked when Kigumba-Kafu-Gulu road is being worked on,” the representative said.

He also informed the gathering that the President had directed the purchase of new road construction equipment to support road works.

The representative called on young people to work hard and contribute to national development, while urging boda boda riders to prioritise road safety to reduce accidents and related deaths.

He further contributed Shs500,000 towards fuel for the two donated motorcycles.

Leaders call for responsible operations

Hon. Linos Ngompek urged boda boda riders to appreciate the prevailing peace in the country and contributed towards the event organised by the Kigumba association.

The engagement provided a platform for riders to discuss the challenges affecting their operations and seek support from leaders on security, infrastructure and business development.

Kigumba Town Council, located along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, is one of the growing urban centres in Kiryandongo District, with boda bodas serving as a major means of transport within the town and surrounding villages.

The two motorcycles are expected to strengthen the association’s income-generating activities, while riders hope that improved security and road infrastructure will help protect their livelihoods and expand their businesses.

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