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Mbale riders appeal to IGP over police brutality
A traffic police officer attempts to arrest a boda boda rider in Kampala in 2016. Boda boda riders in Mbale City say the police harasses them while enforcing curfew. PHOTO | FILE
Boda boda riders in Mbale City have on two occasions in three weeks stormed Mbale Central Police Station protesting alleged brutality by the Force.
The first incident happened on January 26 and the second on February 6. But on both occasions, police have responded with teargas and live bullets to disperse the riders.
In the first incident, riders were protesting over the death of a third- year student of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Mbale campus.
Ibrahim Mudoma, 27, was allegedly knocked dead by a boda boda rider who was trying to evade arrest by police over violating curfew restrictions.
In the latest incident, another rider, Sowedi Wamini, 48, a resident of Magezi Cell in Namakwekwe Ward, Northern City Division, was hit by a stray bullet, according to police, during a night patrol in Nkoma Ward at 3am.
Sources within police said the officer identified as Francis Kissa, who is accused of shooting the rider, has since been arrested.
Mr Karim Madoi, one of the boda boda riders, told Daily Monitor in an interview at the weekend that they are living in fear over what he described as unnecessary arrests and torture by police officers.
“They have turned us into punching bags but we will not tolerate that. We are tired and are going to reiterate,” he said.
Mr Shakuru Kutosi, also a boda boda rider, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth-Ochola should intervene.
“We ask the IGP and if not, President Museveni, to intervene and save us. We are also Ugandans,” he said.
Livelihoods at stake
Mr David Mudebo, another rider at Mission Stage in Mbale City, said police officers are using curfew to torture and extort money from them.
“It’s true some of us operate beyond 6pm but that is not enough to torture and kill us. We work because we have families to take care of,” Mr Mudebo said.
President Museveni allowed boda boda riders to start operating in July last year provided they wear face masks and helmets. Mr Museveni also said riders should not be allowed to operate beyond 6pm but according to our investigations, this has been widely violated, mostly in the urban areas.
“Police are responsible for the conduct of the boda boda riders because they rarely enforce the restrictions but when they happen to be on duty on some days, they use a lot of force,” Mr Jude Nagwere, a resident, said.
Mr Yusuf Makweta, an activist working with Human Rights Defenders in Elgon Sub-region, said on a daily basis, especially during morning hours, they receive cases of torture against police.
“I wish police would be taking these cyclists to court to be charged accordingly for all these allegations but once they impound, they later hand over the motorcycle to them after paying,” he said.
Police speak out
The Elgon regional police spokesperson, Mr Rogers Taitika, said its police work to ensure that curfew restrictions are not violated.
“They are always found working even in the middle of the night, which is unacceptable and we are working to stop that,” he said.
Mr Taitika explained that the boda boda rider, who died on February 6, was shot by a stray bullet not deliberately killed as riders were alleging.
“He was hit by a stray bullet as he tried to speed off from the police. There is also evidence that he was a thief,” he said.
Mr Taitika warned boda boda riders to stop attacking the police station over unfounded allegations.
“When they storm the police station, they cause more issues,” he said.
