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Revealed: Why Parliament Won’t Investigate Boda Boda 2010 Atrocities

Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga Tuesday revealed that Parliament won’t investigate the alleged criminal activities of Boda Boda 2010.

Earlier on, the August House had decided to establish a select Committee to investigate the dealings and activities of the dreaded boda boda association.

In her communication to the House, Kadaga said Parliament can’t investigate the controversial matter which is before court following the arrest of the association’s patron, Hajji Abdallah Kitata and several others by operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) last week. They were for allegedly committing a number of crimes in the city including killings.

It should be noted that on November 28, 2017, Bunya East MP, Waira Majegere moved a motion seeking for the resolution of Parliament to establish a select Committee to investigate the lawlessness of Boda boda 2010 and other Boda Boda Associations in Kampala.

Parliament debated and resolved to constitute a select Committee to investigate the activities of the associations in question, but the latest development indicates that Parliament has agreed to halt hearing on the matter because the same matter is being investigated by courts of law.

“There is a criminal trial going on; there is an investigation around the same area, so I want to propose that we hold on a little bit because it will be difficult for us to hold a hearing because the same people are called in court,” Kadaga said, adding: “I want to propose that we wait and see how the court process moves before the House comes in to investigate,  but certainly we take note the seriousness of the situation, but let us wait for the other organ which is undertaking investigations and the trial to handle that issue.”

In his motion, Majegere noted that although the Boda Boda industry has grown phenomenally over time, the growth has made it difficult to estimate the accurate number of operators as well as effectively regulate them due to the fluidity of the industry.

The Legislator went on calling for Parliament intervention into the matter saying the members of Boda Boda Association are involved in criminal and other lawful activities such as brutalizing the general public and members of rival associations, actions he said had caused insecurity in the country.

“There are allegations that some of the Boda Boda Associations that are in possession of weapons and other harmful substances including batons, handcuffs, knives, guns sprays among others and these are used to extort money from their victims,” Majegere said.

He said that the unlawful, errant and aggressive behavior of the Boda Boda Association is a serious matter of national importance which should be investigated by Parliament in a bid to forge a way forward and save the lives of the people of Uganda that are endangered by such groups of people.

 

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