By Ambrose Okwanga I May 10th, 2026
Boda Boda riders in Lira City have announced a strike beginning on Monday morning in protest against a controversial shs 35,000 fee they claim is being collected illegally.
Speaking during a press conference held at Pacific Hotel on May 9th, 2026, Sam Kwenye, on of the riders said riders are not refusing to pay taxes to government, but they object to the manner in which the money is being collected.
He argued that legitimate taxes should be paid through banks or official payment systems, not through cash collections.
Kwenye further alleged that three individuals claiming to be leaders of Boda Boda riders in Lira City, despite not being officially elected, are working with some city officials to collect money unlawfully from riders.
“..because of this, riders have resolved to park their motorcycles starting tomorrow morning, accusing enforcement officers of illegally impounding motorcycles” he added.
Stephen Okello, another rider, said the matter had already been reported to the Resident City Commissioner of Lira City, Lawrence Egole, who reportedly said he was not aware of the collection exercise.
Okello accused Juma Owera, Sam Odongo and Moses Okori, who present themselves as Boda Boda leaders, of spearheading the collection of the money.
He added that riders discovered the money being collected was not approved by council, prompting them to suspend payments until Lira City Council officially clarifies the matter.
Another rider, Solomon Adinga, claimed that receipts issued to riders bear the stamp of Baraka Graphics Limited instead of Lira City Council, alleging that the receipts do not clearly indicate the amount paid or the purpose of the payment.
Adinga further claimed that identity cards issued to riders contain QR codes which, when scanned, display the names and phone numbers of Juma Owera, Sam Odongo and Moses Okori, raising suspicions that the trio could be using the city’s name for personal gain.
Tonny Ojok, a former Boda Boda rider alleged that enforcement officers attempted to seize his motorcycle and assaulted him when he resisted.
The angry riders, through their lawyer Emmanuel Egaru of Egaru and Co. Advocates, formally served Lira City Council alongside Juma Owera, Sam Odongo and Moses Okori with a demand notice calling for the immediate suspension of the enforcement exercise, which they described as brutal, illegal and inhumane.
However, Juman Owera defended the exercise, saying Baraka Technology was contracted by Lira City Council to collect revenue from Boda Boda riders.
Owera said more than 2,500 riders had already complied with the payment, insisting that riders must pay the levy because government cannot effectively provide services without local revenue collection.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Lira City Council were unsuccessful by press time.