20 bikes stolen, 2 killed in Lango since lifting of lockdown

MINISTER ACENG | BODA RIDERS | EMPOWERING  

LIRA - At least two 20 bodaboda motorcycles have reportedly been robbed and two cyclists killed in Lango since the full reopening of the economy, which saw boda riders resuming night business.

Chairperson Lira United Motorcycle Boda Boda Association (LUMBA) Moses Okori on Wednesday, April 6 said the two bodaboda riders were killed by iron bar hitmen in the process of robbing the bikes.

According to Okori, five of the cases involved the robbers hitting the heads of the cyclists with the iron bars and they later made off with the motorcycles, leaving the owner helpless, while the rest of the cases involved the use of chloroform and treachery.

Asked how the motorcycles were recovered, Okori said with the help of the Police, they managed to track and recover seven motorcycles. 

He added that all these motorcycles were recovered in the eastern Uganda districts of Tororo, Busia and Malaba en route to Kenya.

Chairperson Lira United Motorcycle Boda Boda Association (LUMBA) Moses Okori. (Credit: Joseph Ekol)

Okori revealed this to the media shortly after handing over 57 new Bajaj motorcycles to boda boda riders.

The bikes worth sh300m were procured using a loan from Housing Finance Bank by Lira City Woman Member of Parliament Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, who is also the health minister.

About the new motorcycles, Okori urged the riders to utilise them to eradicate poverty from their homes and save part of the money to pay the two-year loan.

Dickens Nam, one of the beneficiaries, lauded Aceng for supporting them to acquire motorbikes on loan.

Lawrence Eyen, another beneficiary, said the motorcycles would enhance the livelihood of their homes as they will be using part of the money to pay school fees and feed their families, among other benefits.