Bodaboda riders protest annual levy imposed by Gulu City Council

Gulu City Senior Finance Officer reveals that with the projection of 10,000 Boda Boda riders in the City, they anticipate collecting shs480 million.

Gulu – January 11, 2022: Gulu City East and West Bodaboda riders are protesting a new operational levy.

They have asked Gulu City Council for the suspension of an annual levy which was approved last year.

In 2021 Gulu City Council approved annual fees of shs48, 000 for all Bodabodas operating within Gulu City. The new tax was increased from shs28, 000 in fiscal years 2020/2021.

There are over 4,675 registered Bodabodas operating under various associations.

Geoffrey Oyo, Gulu City Senior Finance Officer reveals that with the projection of 10,000 Boda Boda riders in the City, they anticipate collecting shs480 million. “After deducting their 50 per cent, the contractor[s] will remit shs240 million to the City.”

Oyo says in the last fiscal year, Gulu City Council was not able to raise any revenue from the riders. He did not reveal reasons for that.

The contested fee was approved during an emergency Council meeting held to pass rates for businesses and properties in Gulu City for the fiscal year 2021/2022.

Other charges

Shillings 15,000 each and shs7, 000 were approved for rental stalls at Gulu main market and in other markets, respectively.

Butcheries are to pay an annual fee of shs100, 000, shs40, 000 annual fees on each hotel and restaurant among others.

The vice-chairperson of Gulu City West Bodaboda Association in Bardege-Layibi Division, Raymond Ocan says they are not understanding why they are paying tax to the Council.

He argues that they are paying a lot of taxes to the government including on fuel, roads, among others.

“We are not going to pay taxes until they clarify the meaning of tax to all the members of Bodaboda in Gulu City,’’ he protested.

Ocan, however, reveals that over 2,174 registered members have no gazetted stages. “We are staging on the walkaways which is risky for the pedestrians to walk freely.”

He also notes that many roads in the area of Bardege-Layibi are too narrow which is causing fatal crashes leaving their members to lose their lives. “Over 50 lives were lost last year.”

He appealed to City Council to plan for gazetted spaces for Bodabodas in the newly constructed roads.

The boda-bodas chief also advises President Museveni to remove curfew and set them free so they can work both at night and day to support their families.

Gulu City East Pece-Laroo Boda Bodas chairperson Francis Rubangakene discloses that over 2,500 registered members have not had any supports from City Council and the government.

Because of the above reasons, he says it is why they are not paying revenue.