Covid-19: Bodaboda Riders Storm Kabale District Offices Over Food

Over Two Hundreds of Bodaboda riders on Tuesday afternoon stormed Kabale District headquarters demanding for relief food after months under lockdown.

As per President Yoweri Museveni’s directive, the bodaboda business remains closed around the country, except for movement of cargo.

The protesters in Kabale said they were running out of food and needed government assistance.

Alex Kiiza, one of the protesters from Kitumba Sub county said his wife had divorced him after failing to provide basic needs for his family.

“I would report weekly Shs 60,000 to the owner of the motorcycle, and the rest of the collected money would sustain my family but when Covid-19 came, the motorcycle was taken by my boss and I became unemployed. Now I can’t sustain even myself. My wife left me because I failed to raise money to take care of my family. Please help us with food if you can” Kiiza said.

Kabale District has received 65 tons of maize flour from well-wishers, which has been distributed to vulnerable groups in the area.

Ronald Kasheija, the District Security Officer, talking to the angry riders, said they are expecting a donation of maize flour before the end of this week, and it would benefit the bodaboda riders.

“Now that we have you here, before the end this week we shall receive a donation from a generous Ugandan and we shall consider you” Kaheija said.

Patrick Besigye Keihwa, the Kabale District chairperson pledged Shs 500,000 to buy maize flour for the riders.

The protesters agreed to wait for a week, for the district to lobby for them maize flour.