KAMPALA – Police in Kampala has arrested three suspected ringleaders of more than 100 Bodaboda riders who were matching to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.
The riders who were holding placards with images of some of their colleagues recently killed or injured by thugs among others Derrick Mulindwa, who was strangled last week in Mengo wanted Kadaga to compel police to produce report of investigations.
Deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, identified the arrested riders as Sadat Katabala, Moses Jjemba and Hassan Wasswa.
Mr. Owoyesigyire said the motorcyclists staged a protest without authorization from Police and had blocked several roads with their crowd.
Police said the trio will be charged with inciting violence and unlawful assembly because they did not follow Public Order Management Act (POMA) that regulates gathering where a clearance must be obtain from Inspector General of Police.
However, Ben Kintu, a Bodaboda rider at Wilson Road who survived arrest, said they had severally written to CPS police seeking clearance over their peaceful demonstration in vain.
Mr. Kintu said several of their colleagues have been killed or harmed by thugs that target them during day and night hours.
Under their pressure group Team Hakuna Mchezo, the cyclist said they have tried to work with police in vain. Kintu said they are not politicking but they just want to secure while doing their job because they have families.
Hassan Ssemakula, also Bodaboda rider said there is need to end attacks on them by thugs because offering transport services is the only job they know but it had now become very risky.
Last week, Bodaboda riders lynched two suspected motorcycle robbers in Lukuli-Buziga Road and Nnabingo along Kampala-Masaka highway.
At least 481 cases of motorcycle robbery were recorded by Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) in 2018 representing a 20 percent increase compared to 386 cases of 2017. Out of 481 motorcycle robbery cases, Kampala contributed one hundred seventy-five.