By Walter Okello I 15 June 2026
Lira City authorities have temporarily suspended enforcement operations against unregistered boda-boda riders after protests disrupted traffic and business activities along the busy Lira-Soroti Road on Monday.
The suspension was announced by Lira City Mayor Sam Atul following an emergency meeting convened at the city council boardroom after security personnel dispersed hundreds of protesting riders who had blocked sections of the road around Uhuru Bar, Corner Bar, Angwet-angwet, Corner Kakoge, and Odokomit.
The demonstrations, which lasted nearly two hours, were triggered by the arrest of a boda-boda rider accused of failing to comply with the city’s mandatory registration programme that requires operators to pay a registration fee of UGX35,000.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Atul said the city had temporarily halted enforcement operations to allow room for dialogue between authorities and boda-boda operators. He emphasized, however, that the registration exercise itself would continue.
According to city records, 5,181 riders have already registered under the programme, while 2,819 remain unregistered out of the targeted 8,000 operators in Lira City.
Atul said city leaders would engage boda-boda representatives to establish the grievances that led to the demonstrations. He noted that the registration exercise is intended to improve order, security, and accountability within the transport sector through proper identification of riders.
He explained that the UGX35,000 registration fee is shared among stakeholders, with UGX7,000 remitted to boda-boda associations, UGX15,000 used for the production of identification cards and stickers, and UGX13,000 retained by the city council.
The mayor further stated that once the exercise is completed, only riders attached to recognised stages will be permitted to operate within the city adding that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen urban management and enhance security.
Lawrence Egole the Lira city resident commisiioner condemned the demonstrations, describing them as unlawful and detrimental to business operations.
Egole argued that the high number of riders who have already registered demonstrates broad support for the programme. He urged operators to seek dialogue rather than resorting to protests, warning that security agencies would not tolerate actions that disrupt public order and economic activities.
He also revealed that investigations had been launched to identify the organisers of the protest, stressing that acts of impunity would not be tolerated.
North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema echoed the condemnation, saying the riders had peaceful channels through which to raise their concerns.
Okema confirmed that 15 suspected ring leaders were arrested and detained at Lira City Central Police Station to assist with investigations. He maintained that blocking roads and disrupting movement was unacceptable and noted that inquiries into the incident remain ongoing.
Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces personnel were deployed to restore order after protesters barricaded sections of the Lira-Soroti Road, causing major disruptions to transport and commerce.
Witnesses said business activities in the affected areas came to a standstill as hundreds of riders gathered on the roadway, demanding an end to what they described as forceful implementation of the registration exercise.
Security personnel later fired tear gas to disperse the protesters and clear the road for traffic.
By evening, authorities reported that calm had been restored, traffic had resumed, and business activities across the city had returned to normal.
What city council is doing unlaw how are they differentiating boda from other