The Sacco chairperson Steven Ssekikubo told URN that the decision was based on the fact that many of their clients may not be able to service the loans when their motorcycles are grounded. He says that the SACCO had given out over 50 motorcycles on loan. But of these, 20 were reportedly impounded by the police, from riders who had defied the presidential directive.
Mukono Bodaboda Cooperative, Savings and Credit Society has suspended weekly and monthly loan repayments for all its clients, until the ban on public transport is lifted. Most of the Sacco’s clients are servicing loans on motorcycles (Bodaboda).
But many of these were thrown out of business when the government announced a ban on public transport as one of the measures, undertaken to contain the spread of COVID-19, a new strain of the coronavirus that has devastated the world.
The Sacco chairperson Steven Ssekikubo told URN that the decision was based on the fact that many of their clients may not be able to service the loans when their motorcycles are grounded. He says that the SACCO had given out over 50 motorcycles on loan. But of these, 20 were reportedly impounded by the police, from riders who had defied the presidential directive.
Ssekikubo says that many of the riders work for daily meals and are under pressure to clear the loans, a reason they had endured police brutality in defiance of the presidential directive.
//Cue in; “Tukubiriza ba memba…
Cue out…ne bagifuna mubungi.”//
Meanwhile, some of the bodaboda riders insisting to work say they lack money to sustain their families. Hamis Muyunga, one of the riders told URN that he needs to work every day, to sustain his two children who are now admitted at Mukono General Hospital with Malaria.
But Mukono Municipality Bodaboda Association chairperson Moses Musasizi disagrees with members disrespecting the presidential directive and advises them to give priority to their health and the health of their families.
“Use well the little money that you had saved, leave the motorcycles at home since you can’t determine the health status of passengers, you will end up carrying the virus to your family members”
//Cue in; “Akasente kolina…
Cue out…gwe watuletera obulwadde”//
On Thursday, a police officer shot one Alex Oryem for defying the ban on public transport. Oryem is still nursing wounds at Mukono General Hospital.
Story by Kimbowa Ivan
