Police block Lukwago meet with bodaboda operators
Sep 22, 2011
THE Police yesterday blocked a meeting organised by the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, with bodaboda operators.
By Taddeo Bwambale and Brian Mayanja
THE Police yesterday blocked a meeting organised by the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, with bodaboda operators.
The meeting was part of efforts to streamline public transport in the city.
Several anti-riot police officers were deployed in and around the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) premises, where the meeting was due to take place at 10:00am. Entry to the premises was restricted to people with identification cards.
The Kampala Central Division Police commander, Norman Musinga, searched the Mayor’s Parlour and City Hall to chase away cyclists who had already entered the KCCA premises.
Lukwago, however, met a group of about 30 bodaboda operators, many of whom sneaked into the premises by impersonating KCCA workers.
He told them that the meeting was intended to seek their views to guide public transport.
The cyclists accused the Police of harassment, especially those carrying out night patrols.
Isaac Ssemujju, a bodaboda cyclist who operates at Parliamentary Avenue, said he was beaten by Police officers and his money confiscated while he was on duty.
Lukwago advised the cyclists to form one association to enable KCCA to respond to their concerns.
He condemned criminal activities among some of their colleagues and said monitoring of such people would only occur if they were united. Lukwago further condemned the Police for blocking the bodaboda cyclists from meeting him.
He argued that he was an elected leader who had the right to meet those who wanted to see him.
THE Police yesterday blocked a meeting organised by the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, with bodaboda operators.
The meeting was part of efforts to streamline public transport in the city.
Several anti-riot police officers were deployed in and around the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) premises, where the meeting was due to take place at 10:00am. Entry to the premises was restricted to people with identification cards.
The Kampala Central Division Police commander, Norman Musinga, searched the Mayor’s Parlour and City Hall to chase away cyclists who had already entered the KCCA premises.
Lukwago, however, met a group of about 30 bodaboda operators, many of whom sneaked into the premises by impersonating KCCA workers.
He told them that the meeting was intended to seek their views to guide public transport.
The cyclists accused the Police of harassment, especially those carrying out night patrols.
Isaac Ssemujju, a bodaboda cyclist who operates at Parliamentary Avenue, said he was beaten by Police officers and his money confiscated while he was on duty.
Lukwago advised the cyclists to form one association to enable KCCA to respond to their concerns.
He condemned criminal activities among some of their colleagues and said monitoring of such people would only occur if they were united. Lukwago further condemned the Police for blocking the bodaboda cyclists from meeting him.
He argued that he was an elected leader who had the right to meet those who wanted to see him.