Mbarara Boda Boda riders decry absence of leadership

Under their umbrella body Mbarara City General Boda Boda Operators Association, the riders accuse Tumwesigye of acting in a discriminatory manner by suspending the Independent Electoral Body (IEB) and the Interim Committee.

The Interim Committee had been tasked with formulating a new constitution to govern riders under the new city status. The IEB had been tasked with conducting the elections.

The petitioners are Majidu Luganda, Edward Arinaitwe, Bashiru Mastiko, Evaristo Musasizi, and Sadick Mujuni from the interim Committee, together with Ronald Bintukwanga Kigudu and Aggrey Rukundo.

The petition asks the High Court of Mbarara to declare that "Assy Abireeba Tumwesigye who is the 1st respondent in the matter acted ultra vires and irrationally when he assumed the duty of court or that of the Independent Electoral Body in suspending the applicants’ elections a duly registered CBO."

Almost a month before the expected election day on January 25, 2023, Tumwesigye suspended the two bodies on December 8th and 12th 2022. The applicants want the two letters referenced as CR/MC/225 dated 8th December 2022 by Tumwesigye addressed to all Boda Boda riders in Mbarara City and the letter dated 12th December 2022 addressed to the 6th applicant (Ronald Bintukwanga Kigudu) to be illegal null and void and of no legal effect.

In the first letter, Tumwesigye suspended the election of new leaders and in the second letter, he suspended the chairperson of IEB.

However, Tumwesigye has come out to contest the accusations in a letter dated March 7, 2023. According to him, the six months that were given to the Interim Committee to carry out its mandate had expired.

He also said the IEB failed to organise elections time and again and disregarded the guidance of the council. He told Independent that he had informed the solicitor general of the matter and wouldn't comment further.

Tumwesigye mentioned that the City authorities have appointed Peter Turyamuhaki, the Community Development Officer and Deputy Clerk of Mbarara City South Division and Principal Commercial Officer to organise the elections.

The suspension of the two bodies in December by the Mbarara City Security Committee was also sparked by protests from a section of riders who accused IEB of irregularities.

The elections have since been postponed three times.