Government Issues New Guidelines to allow Boda Bodas Resume Carrying Passengers

The Minister of State for Works, Joy Kabasti has unveiled new plans that government has set for boda bodas to resume normal operations.

Kabasti said that government has put in place new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to allow boda bodas to resume carrying passengers. She said that boda bodas will only resume normal operations until guided so by the President in his upcoming address on COVID-19 this evening at 8pm.

According to the new guidelines, boda bodas will be mandated to wear face masks at all times, disinfect their motorbikes before and after dropping passengers and keep two meters apart from each other on stages. The minister also encouraged the passengers to wear a face shield.

“They are required regularly to disinfect their motorcycles and jackets using antimicrobial cleansers prior to every trip. A boda boda shall strictly carry one passenger at the time and boda boda operators shall remain two meters apart at the stage,” Kabasti said during Tuesday plenary.

MPs were however, not satisfied with the Minister’s statement saying it was unreasonable to allow other sectors operate up to 7pm yet Boda Boda business curfew time remains at 5pm.

Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa asked MPs to avoid driving a narrative as if government has already allowed Boda bodas to operate normally, saying that the guidelines from the Ministry of Works await the final decision that will be pronounced by the President in his address this evening.