Museveni Gives Borders New Lease of Life; Warns Hoarders

President Museveni has extended Boda Boda’s operating hours from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

Recently, when public transport was suspended in an effort to contain the spread of COVID 19, Boda Bodas carrying goods were exempted.

They had to operate not beyond the curfew time of 7:00pm.

However, in a recent address on COVID 19, President Museveni reduced Boda Boda’s time of operations from 7:00pm to 2:00pm.

This led to the impounding of a huge number of bodabodas as many failed to adhere to the directive and continued operating beyond 2pm.

This affected delivery of goods as many struggle to work on orders by 1:00pm to be able to be home by 2:00pm.

“We had said they (bodabodas) should stop at 2(pm) but when we analysed we said why 2 (pm)?”

Museveni said the logic was that the riders should be home by 7:00pm to avoid being used by criminals.

“That is why the idea had come that they stop at 2:00pm but we thought 2:00pm was too early. Now we have decided that no, 2:00pm is too early, let it be 5pm so that you have enough time to go back home and be indoors for the 7 o’clock curfew,” said Museveni.

Upon receiving information from the Minister of Trade and Cooperative Hon Amelia Kyambadde that many bodas were impounded, Museveni ordered for their immediate release.

Trucks

On the other hand, Museveni ordered the COVID 19 National Task Force to study the situation of trucks carrying cargo on whether they should have only one person (driver) or a maximum of three.

Initially, when the borders were shut, trucks carrying cargo were exempted to continue operating but with a maximum of three people onboard.

“Some people who are in transport business are saying that three people are not necessary, that they are actually a danger because when they are three, they go talking, sometimes they cause accidents. The opinion is coming that one person is enough,” he said.

He ordered COVID 19 National Task Force to study the situation and advise him on the next course of action.

On the issue of persons who die of COVID 19 abroad, Museveni ordered that they should be buried there.

Hoarders

Meanwhile, the President cautioned food suppliers who are hoarding their foodstuffs to reap from higher prices in future that he will authorize importation of food.

“I heard that there are some games of some suppliers trying to keep food so that prices goes up. I really don’t like selfish people. If I hear that there is not enough maize or beans because people are withholding from the market, then I will import. I just get a whisper that the food is not enough, you will see. I will just import and forget about you because you are crooks. You are trying to take advantage of your people to blackmail them. People are dying for food for you you are after money. Sorry, we are going to import, big imports and those things of yours will rot in your stores,” he said.