Police to start daytime 'kawunyemu' operations

By Carol Kasujja

A recent police report on road accidents in Kampala and surrounding areas has revealed that drunk driving is the major cause of accidents.

In 2014, fatal accidents constituted 41.82% as a result of drunk driving. A bulk of the accidents occurred between 10pm and 7am.

The Kampala Metropolitan Traffic commander, Norman Musinga, when presenting the report at UMA showgrounds on Thursday also revealed that police will start daytime operations to net offenders.

Musinga said the operations will target drivers and bodaboda riders who keep alcohol in their jackets.

“Bodabodas in the city center continue to be a challenge to manage. Many of you do not pay attention to road signs. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. You should not wait for us to come chasing after you yet this is your life you are playing around with. Protect yourselves and your customers,”

“We are not stopping you from drinking but drink responsibly. We are continuing with the late operations known as ‘Kawunyemu’ but we are also going to start checking drivers and riders in the morning, if found you will pay a fine of sh100,000 or imprison you for not less than 6months,”he said.

At the event, Police and Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) unveiled a campaign to reduce drink-driving accidents. 

Addressing commercial motorcyclists during the meeting, Rhona Arinaitwe, the corporate relations executive officer at Uganda Breweries Limited noted that bodaboda cyclists have a big responsibility over their lives, businesses and customers.

“If anything, you from the boda boda business should be the leading ambassadors of road safety. We urge you to take on this role with pride. We all stand to lose if you and your customers are involved in accidents as a result of drink riding. I therefore urge you all to join us in this initiative to reduce road accidents. Ride with your helmets on, don’t drink and ride and stay clear of the roads past midnight,” she said.