Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA has clarified rumors that they have started the process of implementing a Boda Boda-free zone in Kampala.
This follows unconfirmed rumors from a section of Boda Bodas and members of the public that KCCA enforcement teams and traffic police cops are now impounding boda-bodas for parking in certain parts of the City.
However, KCCA spokesperson, Daniel NuweAbine says plans for a Boda Boda free zone are still underway but are not being implemented anytime soon.
NuweAbine says this will happen once they first introduce buses on the road.
He explains that KCCA recently entered an understanding with Metu Zhongtong Bus Company to produce buses for Kampala and this is expected to take a least 2 years.
However, Boda Boda riders remain unhappy with this development and think it is a government ploy to kick them out of business.
Umar Isabirye, the chairman of Boda Boda riders in Makindye says that KCCA should first provide an exit plan for Boda Boda riders operating in the free zone areas before evicting them.
Isabirye says there are over 300 riders in Kampala Central and have stages they paid for between Shillings 500,000 to 1.5 million.
Isabirye wants KCCA to compensate people for the money they invested in acquiring stages before they can displace them.
Siraj Mutyaba who operates in Kampala Central says that it is not practical for the government to remove Boda Bodas in the planned zone.
Mutyaba says Boda Bodas depend on people in town including arcade traders and market vendors therefore it would make more sense to replan the whole idea.
According to KCCA, there are over 250,000 Boda Bodas in the City.
The Boda Boda Free Zone is supposed to run along the boundaries of Wampewo Roundabout- Jinja Road to Kitgum House junction – Access Road – Mukwano Road to Clock Tower –Kafumbe Mukasa Road –Kisenyi Road –Mackay Road- Kyaggwe Road- Watoto Church-Bombo Road – Wandegeya – Hajji Musa Kasule Road- Mulago roundabout- Kamwokya junction – Sturrock Road – Prince Charles Drive- Lugogo Bypass–Jinja Road- Wampewo Roundabout.
Last year in July, the government said they would operationalize the zone in November 2020 but soon halted the plan pending registration of Boda Bodas.
