By Michael Atwakiire
Sheema: Kabwohe Boda-boda riders in Sheema municipality on Saturday stormed office of the Resident District Commissioner ( RDC), demanding for COVID-19 food, or else should be allowed to work.
The boda-boda riders, led by their Chairman Kasapuri Charles, told RDC that they usually see leaders and well-wishers donating food stuffs to help vulnerable people but that to their surprise, they have never seen the RDC and his team calling upon them to give them food yet they know that ever since the lockdown started, they haven’t been working yet they used to depend on their daily activities to earn a living.
They assured the RDC that if he wasn’t in position to help them by giving them free maize flour and beans, he should give them permission to demonstrate and storm offices of Sheema District political leaders, especially Members of Parliament, a thing he objected to.
These angry riders also reported to RDC Frank Kyereere to discipline his security personnel who they said severely torture them and take away their money after being arrested purportedly for flouting presidential directives on Covid19.
“Please Mr RDC, your security men in UPDF and police attires usually ambush us along the way especially along feeder roads. They demand for money and what hurts most is that after giving them money, they beat us like snakes. We therefore request you to discipline and if possible start with those deployed in Masheruka town council, Karera police station and the head of Nyakashambya prisons, they are bad people to boda-boda riders,” they charged.
However, RDC Kyereere asked the boda-boda riders to register their names and phone contacts promising them that in case he gets food, he would give it to them. But he urged them to obey Presidential directives on COVID-19, saying some had already started disobeying them by carrying passengers and riding during curfew hours.
He also promised to discipline his security men by arresting them and asked boda-boda riders to get for him evidence of those who solicit money from them.
