The government has banned all unregistered boda boda cyclists from the five divisions of Kampala.

The Kampala minister, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, said only those boda boda riders who took part in the just-concluded census would be allowed to operate in the capital city.

She said those registered would be trained, given a security code and jackets, and operate from gazetted stages.

“On Monday (today), those who would not have registered will not be allowed to operate in the city. They will first stay at home as only those registered by KCCA and by the ministry of Kampala will be allowed to operate in Nakawa, Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye and Central,” she said last Friday while addressing the media in Kampala.

The minister said by Thursday last week, about 35,000 had been registered, although they had expected 40,000 of them to have registered by the close of last Friday. 

Regarding reducing the licence fee for boda bodas, the minister said she would first consult relevant stakeholders, including KCCA, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Finance Ministry, before making a final decision. 

She also advised vendors operating on the city streets to return to their respective markets. 

In an earlier interview with this publication, the head of Public and Corporate Affairs at KCCA, Mr Simon Kasyate, said the deadline of September 16 would not be extended.

“The deadline shall not be extended. We appeal to all those who have not registered to make it a point to register by the end of Friday, September 16, 2022. Failure to do so shall be difficult to enjoy their operating rights in Kampala,” Mr Kasyate said.

The Boda boda census commenced on August 15 and ended on September 30. However, the exercise flopped during the first week, prompting KCCA to extend the deadline to September 16 to enable more riders to participate.

Some of the riders had failed to register over a lack of required documents.

Others shunned the exercise, reasoning that they had already been registered by people who had charged them a registration fee of Shs60,000. The Executive Director of KCCA, Ms Dorothy Kisaka, said the census is intended to restore order and ensure proper planning for the riders.

Previously, the boda boda census was carried out at selected schools in Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye, Central and Nakawa since learners were still on holiday. The census centres were later relocated to division head offices

Original article: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/unregistered-boda-boda-riders-banned-from-city-3953426