The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Close to 100 boda boda riders and passengers are in custody at different Kampala metropolitan police stations for defying presidential directives.
The riders and passengers were arrested from different places for defying President’s directive that boda boda’s should not carry passengers as as way of reducing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said that the suspects were arrested in an operation that was carried out in Kampala metropolitan areas of Kasangati, Kawempe, Kabalagala, Katwe and other areas on Saturday and Sunday.
According to police, the operations followed incidents of continued violation of the presidential directives and the Ministry of Health guidelines on the containment the spread of the COVID-19 by boda boda riders in mostly parts of Kampala and Wakiso districts.
“Police has taken firm action against these people. Several riders and passengers were arrested and are detained at various police stations in Kampala Metropolitan,” says Onyango.
He says the suspects will be charged with disobedience of lawful orders and doing acts likely to spread infectious disease. “This will serve as a warning to all people who continue to defy the presidential directives and the ministry of health guidelines,” he added.
Currently, motorcyclists are restricted to only delivery services and only transporting passengers under emergency circumstances.
On Thursday, some boda boda riders were arrested for staging a demonstration demanding government to allow them resume their normal operations.
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