Business ground to a halt in Bukwo town on Friday following a peaceful demonstration staged by Boda Bodas riders protesting the escape of ten suspects from Bukwo Central Police Station. According to the riders, some of the suspects were arrested for killing Boda Boda riders in Bukwo district.
The riders argue that the escape of ten high-profile suspects from Bukwo CPS on Monday this week exposes their lives at risk. The riders demanded an explanation from the police over the escape of the suspects from a well-protected facility. Since then, five police officers have been charged with neglect of duty and not showing up for work in connection with the suspects’ escape.
George Kiprop, one of the Boda boda riders, says that the escape of the suspects, some of whom killed Boda boda riders, has forced them to suspend distant journeys for fear for their lives. “Since those suspects escaped from police cells, we have stopped moving to distant places past 8 pm,” he said.
Aggrey Chemasuwet, another Boda boda rider, said it took the intervention of Boda bodas to hunt the suspects and hand them to the police, who should have arraigned them in court for murdering two people and stealing four motorcycles. Samuel Hashaka Mpimbaza, the Bukwo Resident District Commissioner, had to talk to the riders to make them calm down.
He informed them that those involved in the mysterious release of the suspects had already been arrested. Aminis Kayondo, who was in charge of the police in the Bukwo District, asked the Boda Boda riders to calm down and help find the people who had gotten away.