Lira | The police in North Kyoga attached to Lira City have apprehended 20 suspects following a protest by a section of boda boda riders on Monday, June 15, 2026.
During the protest, boda boda riders took to the streets to accuse the city authorities of unfair revenue collection. Specifically, they objected to the shs35,000 per-person levy, questioning why officials were collecting payments in cash rather than through the bank, as they preferred.
Police, through SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, PRO of North Kyoga Region, are currently investigating what they call “unlawful assembly and malicious damage to police motor vehicles on June 15, 2026, between 9am and 10am along the Lira–Soroti Highway, near Hotel Komar in Lira City.”
SP JOkema confirmed that authorities had successfully arrested over 20 suspects during the protest. He explained that the trouble began when a team of law enforcement officers from Lira City Council conducted an operation at Uhuru Bar Boda Boda Stage.
The officers, he said, were impounding motorcycles whose operators had reportedly failed to pay the taxes levied by the City Council.
“During the operation, the officers encountered resistance from some operators, and the situation escalated after one rider was arrested, despite claims that he had already paid the required tax.”
According to Okema, the arrest triggered unrest among a section of boda boda riders, who turned violent and confronted the law enforcement officers. The situation was further aggravated when other individuals operating around the Uhuru Bar area joined the disturbance.
The group subsequently blocked the Lira–Soroti Highway near Hotel Komar, disrupting traffic and public activities.
In response, police officers from Lira City East Division Police Station, Lira City Central Police Station, and the Field Force Unit (FFU) were dispatched to the scene to restore calm and order.
However, the demonstrators grew hostile and pelted stones at the responding officers, causing damage to motor vehicle registration number UP 7722, attached to Lira City East Division, and motor vehicle registration number UP 5599, attached to Lira City Central Police Station.
PRO SP Okema noted that a reinforcement team from the UPDF based at Lira Barracks joined the police in restoring order. Tear gas and warning shots were fired to disperse the violent crowd and prevent further destruction of property and threats to public safety.
As a result, twenty suspects were arrested and are currently detained at Lira Central Police Station on allegations of malicious property damage.
They include Okene Gerald, Okello Kenneth, Okello Brian; Eyeny Innocent, Otim Joshua, Odyeng Kenneth and Okwir Isaac. Others are Emenyo Ronald, Oleya Bonny, Owal Benard, Ogwang Moris, Otim Robinson and Okeng Daniel.
Okidi Jaspher, Emuna Dan, Apoka Tobby, Acuma Isaac, Okello Quinto, Ocen Aron and Ayo George have also been arrested.
“For now, enforcement operations have been temporarily halted to allow for thorough investigations into both the incident and the alleged grievances of the boda boda operators,” SP Okema said.
He added, “In the meantime, registration continues freely. Further updates will be communicated in due course. The situation is currently under control.”
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