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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 425 boda-boda riders are in police custody and their motorcycles impounded on charges of obscuring number plates within Kampala metropolitan areas.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire has said that the ongoing operations against motorcyclists with obscured number plates are intended to curb acts of criminality.
“Specifically we’re looking for riders who obscure number plates,” Oweyesigyire said. “This is a crime according to the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998. Most of the time when we have followed up with investigations on different crimes committed around the city and in residential areas, the number plates of motorcycles used in these crimes are always obscured by the criminals.”
According to police, most of the motorcycles were impounded by traffic police backed up by Field Force Unit officers in areas of Kawempe, Nansana, Wandegeya, Nakawa, Natete, and Makindye areas since Monday.
Owoyesigyire explains that all impounded motorcycles are currently parked at different police stations, and all the riders were consequently arrested.
“Since yesterday and today, we have so far impounded 425 motorcycles, and riders have also been arrested, they will be arraigned in courts of law anytime,” Owoyesigyire said.
Police say the operations are continuing until the habit of obscuring number plates is stopped by riders on the roads.
The crackdown on obscured number plates on boda-bodas follows last week’s similar operations against vehicles without number plates on the roads.
“Whoever is found with obscured number plates or any driver found without a clear explanation why their vehicle has no number will be arrested and charged,” Owoyesigyire insisted. “They will either be fined or sentenced to one year in prison according to the laws.”
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