Boda boda riders are set to resume carrying passengers with strict guidelines
Boda boda riders are set to resume operations after the Ministry of Works and Transport unveiled Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will require operators to disinfect their motorcycles before and after dropping passengers and keep two meters apart from each other on stages.
The guidelines were unveiled by Minister of State for Works, Joy Kabasti while responding to various complaints and petitions before Parliament after President Yoweri Museveni extended the 5Pm curfew and restriction of boda bodas to carrying only luggage and not passengers.
Kabasti said the Ministry of Works had agreed on a set of SOPs that will guide boda boda operations.
Operators will be required to have a valid riding license, a valid third party insurance and the motorcycle must be in good mechanical condition and all riders must have a safety helmet.
The Minister said that all passengers shall at all times wear a face mask covering nose and mouth and the passengers are encouraged to wear face shield.
“They are required regularly to disinfect their motorcycles and jackets using antimicrobial cleansers prior to every trip. A boda boda shall strictly carry one passenger at the time and boda boda operators shall remain two meters apart at the stage,” Minister Kabasti added.
Government also extended mandatory inspection for motor cycle for road worthiness up to 31st December but also urged the boda boad operators to observe curfew time of 5Pm.
Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula South) however noted that the Minister’s statement fell short of addressing action taken on various petitions especially with concerns that most motorcycles were confiscated by Police for flouting COVID-19 regulations.
Reagan Okumu (Aswa County) questioned the scientific evidence behind the 5Pm curfew for boda bodas yet the other sectors are operating up to 7Pm curfew.
MPs, Latiff Ssebagala (Kawempe South) and Robert centenary (Kasese Municipality) called on Government to prepare a special package that would ease boda bodas to access loans that don’t attract interest like the issue of Islamic banking
However, Ruth Nankabirwa (Government Chief Whip) asked MPs not to divert the debate into making the country to think that President Yoweri Museveni has okayed the full opening up of boda boda business, saying the guidelines were simply agreed upon by the Ministry of Works and the public should await the final decision by President Museveni.
Kenneth Esiangu (Soroti County) wondered how Government is going to enforce the two-meter social distancing guidelines at the various boda stages as proposed by Ministry of Works.
