Lira City boda riders want DPC Ruganza’s transfer cancelled

Lira I A section of boda boda riders stormed the Lira City RCC office on Tuesday morning, demanding that the transfer of DPC Lira CPS Abel Ruganza be cancelled.

Ruganza has received praise from some boda-bodas for his security management efforts despite only being in office for five months.

Before reaching the RCC office, the riders started with a demonstration from the main street of Lira. They hooted and chanted with dissatisfaction after hearing the transfer of DPC Ruganza.

Juma Owera is the chairman of the Lira City Boda-boda Association. He stated that prior to Ruganza’s appointment as DPC in November 2023, boda bodas were losing their bikes and lives at the hands of iron bar hit men. Many people, he said, had been injured.

In their plea to RCC Lawrence Egole, Owera requests that Ruganza’s transfer be “cancelled and not moved out of Lira.”

“Our DPC is not going anywhere,” he said, adding, “RCC, he (Ruganza) has saved us against our enemies.”

Meanwhile, Sarah Awor Angweri, the female workers’ representative at Lira City Council, praised Ruganza. Awor described him as “a man of peace”.

Awor claimed that the transfer is being fueled by some “giant selfish politicians in the city,” but she did not mention their names.

She stated that as a workers’ representative, boda boda safety is of the utmost importance. She also wants the transfer cancelled.

A prominent city resident who spoke to tndNews on condition of anonymity has asked boda bodas never to be allowed to be used for political reasons. This person said the Tuesday demonstration was “staged to soil the image of some leaders.”

“To begin with, a public servant can be transferred at any time and from any location. I see no reason why boda bodas should be so concerned about it. Transfers are normal,” he stated.

Under IGP Abbas Byakagaba, a number of changes have been made. The most notable one is the appointment of the new national Police spokesperson in which SCP Fred Enanga was named new deputy Director of Interpol and International Relations.

ACP Rusoke Kituuma has replaced Enanga.

Addressing the boda bodas at his office, RCC Egole thanked them for being concerned about their security and other challenges to their business.

He recognised the role that boda boda plays in assisting security in identifying criminal elements, which has resulted in the recovery of some guns that were being used to terrorise the community.

The RCC advised them to formalise their request by writing to his office about the challenges. He promised to send it to the appropriate authorities for consideration.

Another major concern that Lira City boda boda wants addressed is how companies that lend motorcycles extort money from their customers.

They claim the manner is unprofessional. According to the bodas, they have become thieves to their customers.

RCC Egole agreed to meet with boda boda riders next week, though the date has yet to be determined. The upcoming meeting will focus on how to address issues affecting boda boda riders.

By Felix Omara.