Dormant traffic officers to lose jobs

By Faustine Odeke January 28, 2014

Traffic officers whose districts will continue to register the highest number of road accidents are at the risk of losing their jobs, an official has warned.

The director of traffic who doubles as the assistant Inspector General of Police, Stephen Kasiima, said the force would dismiss all dormant officers who had ignored their core role on the road and instead made it their task to issue receipts.

Speaking during the pass out of 43 boda-boda riders who underwent a-three-month training on traffic regulations at Tororo Police grounds on Monday, Kasiima asked his officers to embark on training of road users and enforce discipline on the road.

The trainings, through which more than 100 riders have benefitted, is believed to have played a role in the reduction of road accidents in Tororo district.

Kasiima who described the traffic leadership of Kumi district as sleeping after discovering that only one rider had a permit in the entire district asked other districts to emulate what was happening in Tororo.

Releasing the traffic report for 2013, Kasiima said despite the reduction of the number of people who died due accidents by 18% over the last two years, the number of boda boda accidents has increased by 12% while buses have reduced by 57%.

He said Malaba region that comprises on Tororo, Busia, Butaleja, Kibuku, Budaka and Pallisa led by the number of death by 102, Elgon 51, Katanga 69, Mityana 48 and Kigezi 38, among others.

Thomas Emurukut the chairman of boda riders association said so far 283 riders in the district have driving permits adding that their target is to train 3000 riders of the total number ranging between 8000 and 9000 by 2016.