The Kitgum District Active Boda Boda Association’s Chairperson, Simon Pido condemned the continued neglect by political leaders who seems to want them during campaign periods, only to abandon them after assuming political office or when they get problems.
Passenger motorcycle operators popularly known as boda bodas in Kitgum district
have resolved not to accept being exploited and misused by politicians for
personal gains during the 2021 election campaigns.
The Kitgum Municipality Boda Boda
Association Chairperson Simon Oyet says all members of the group are under
strict instructions to resist being lured by political aspirants for mobilization
purposes without reaching their offices for consent.
According to Oyet, during
political campaign periods, aspirants hire them and use them as pawns to
advance their own selfish needs under pretext of mobilizing voters for their political
gains and patronage.
Oyet says political
aspirants can even offer them fuel worth a mere 2000 shillings and subject them to travel
lengthy distances which is often time wasting and compromises their cardinal
purpose of making money.
Luo audio
//Cue in: “wan pe watye…..
Cue out: ….apar nongo ber”//
The Kitgum District Active Boda
Boda Association’s Chairperson, Simon Pido equally condemned the continued neglect
by political leaders who only want them during campaign periods only to abandon
them after assuming political office or during times when they are faced with problems.
According to Pido, during
campaign periods, political aspirants commit to various pledges in support to their
association, ranging from promising enormous government programs;
enhancing their saving schemes and supporting their children’s education, only
to fail to fulfill their pledges once they assume office.
Pido cites a pledge allegedly made by President
Yoweri Museveni while gracing the 38th Tarehe Sita celebrations
in 2019 where he allegedly promised to offer 50 million shillings to boda boda operators
in each of the eight districts in Acholi Sub Region, put the pledge has not
been fulfilled.
Luo audio //Cue in: “kombedi teke…..
Cue out: ….kwo marac”//
David Acelllam a member of the Civil
Society Working Group in Kitgum describes this mobilization strategy as voter bribery
and electoral corruption since the politicians use it in return for votes.
He stresses the need to
enhance voter education on civic knowledge during election period to enable voters actively hold leaders accountable and engage them to address social issues that
impact on the welfare of communities other than voter bribery.
