Bodaboda cyclists in Wakiso and Kampala districts have been handed windshields they earlier requested from President Yoweri Museveni, as protection from lung cancer and related diseases emanating from inhaling excessive air while riding.
The windshields were handed to the riders by the Commissioner for the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC) Hellen Seku and the Minister for Youth and Children’s Affairs, Balaam Balugahara Ateenyi at the Pan Africa Square in Kampala. Commissioner Seku urged the cyclists to remain law-abiding, vigilant and responsible people while executing their duties.
She advised them to take advantage of the reduced licence costs as directed by President Museveni recently, and follow the Traffic and Road Safety Act and reciprocate by being hard workers.
Seku also advised the riders to avoid recklessness and other acts of indiscipline to give a positive picture of their job to their clients.
She praised them for having attended the transformation and patriotism course held recently at the Oliva Reginald Tambo Leadership School – Kaweweta, and advised them to embrace unity and patriotism core values.
The commissioner commended the riders for their reformation at Kaweweta, saying it is a shining example of positive impact of leadership and community engagement. “As you continue to thrive, remember that your profession plays a vital role in Uganda’s economy, providing livelihoods for millions, thus making your dedication to responsible service a crucial issue,” she noted.
Seku thanked President Museveni for his unwavering support to the bodaboda riders fraternity across the country, citing initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP)fund, which she said have gone a long way in fostering the youth’s economic growth.
“As proud citizens, let’s demonstrate our love for Uganda by embracing these and other initiatives that foster economic growth, and please grab them,invest in your future and contribute to socio-economic development,” she urged.
The State Minister for Youth Affairs Balaam Barugahara warned riders against using President Museveni’s image as a license to commit crime and instead emphasize observance of law and order plus ethical road usage.
Balaam charged them with the responsibility of promoting unity among fellow riders, discouraging violence and embracing national spirit and patriotism and, above all, reporting all criminal activities to authorities in charge.
“On behalf of the bodaboda riders, let me thank Commissioner Seku for her love and support and also urge fellow boda riders to always use the wind shields, avoid driving without helmets and carrying more than one passenger; let us endeavour to work as true patriots as our President has always emphasized, because the duty of clearing our name is on us”, noted Mawejje.
Mawejje announced new proactive measures to combat boda-boda thefts, involving deployment of trackers to monitor and apprehend perpetrators.
