The Kampala Council City Authority (KCCA) has embarked on the registration process of all riders in the city.
Accordingly, the Authority has embarked on a recruitment drive for registration staff, and applicants are required to  among others possess a Diploma as minimum qualification and be aged below 35 years.

In a letter signed by the Kampala Central Division Town Clerk Theo Tihibika, the new regulations are aimed at streamlining the boda boda industry that employs over 20.000 people in the city.

‘This is therefore to seek for suitable applicants in the following qualifications to carry out the following exercise in the central division: below thirty five years of age, at least, a minimum qualification of a diploma level, possess a NIN (National Identification Card), have a bank account’, reads Tibihika’s February 9 letter in part.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 4.00pm.

Boda-Boda industry has come under public scrutiny in the recent years over the conduct of various people linked to the business like Abudallah Kitata of Boda-Boda 2010.

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Serene Suites and Hotel has been summoned by Equal Opportunities Commission over racial discrimination.

The leisure facility advertised on February 12 New Vision newspaper among others calling for applicants to fill the vacant posts available at the hotel.

In the advert, the hotel indicated it was looking for a hotel manager who should be a white person while restaurant manager who should be an Indian.
However, according to the Ugandan Constitution, any employment based on tribe and race is prohibited and is considered discriminatory.

“We have read your advert in the New Vision of Monday February 12, 2018 on page 47 titled ‘employment opportunities’. In that advert, you indicate that Serene Suites and Hotel is seeking recruit eligible persons to fill various positions. Among others you are seeking a Hotel manager should be preferably a white person and a restaurant manager who should be preferably an Indian person. You are hereby ordered to make a written explanation as why your hotel seeks to recruit for the above mentioned positions taking into account the prospective applicants’ race and /or origin. The written explanation must reach the commission’s offices by close of business on Thursday February 15, 2018.” Reads the summons.

It continues “In the meantime, the commission under section 15 (4) (b) directs you to halt the recruitment process for the cited positions. This directive shall remain in force until another is issued to the contrary” reads the statement signed by Lawrence Mujuni Mpitsi Secretary to the Commission.
Under article 21 of the constitution of Uganda, it prohibits discrimination based on colour, race and ethnic backgrounds.

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The Uganda police have been faulted for not collecting an amount of Shs52bn in express penalty fees over the years.
In accordance with Section 179 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, the police are empowered to enforce the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS).

However, according to the Auditor Generals’ report, the Police Force has failed in its duty to meet their obligations as mandated.
Among the aims of objects of the scheme according to the Traffic and Road Safety Act is to have minor offences handled expressly to reduce the work load at Police Stations.

The police are also expected to reduce congestion at the police station and courts and also reduce inconveniences to motorists who commit offences which are considered minor in the Traffic and Road Safety Act.
It is further aimed at generating non-tax revenue for the Uganda police and government in general.

However, according to the Auditor General’s report, it has been noted that enforcement under this scheme is inadequate.

“Tickets are currently issued manually to traffic offenders throughout the country and there is lack of computers with internet connectivity in almost all stations outside Kampala and issuing tickets to offenders manually makes it difficult for traffic officers to reconcile with URA EPS defaulters,” notes the report.

The report further reveals that because of the of the challenges noted above, revenue has not been collected as anticipated.

“Over the past 10 years, revenue from penalties to a tune of Shs52, 685, 427,000 has remained outstanding and many offenders have continued to default after realizing that Police could not follow up on unpaid tickets, therefore the outstanding amount is likely to increase,” reads the report.

Meanwhile it has been observed that there exist unsettled court awards and compensations amounting to Shs676, 818,974,843.
“The outstanding amount in court awards and compensations had been accumulating over the last five financial years from Shs54, 009,997,832 in financial year 2011/2012 to Shs676, 818,974,873 in financial year 2016/17.” says the report.
It is also revealed that because of the unpaid court awards, interest amounting to Shs168, 005,612,514, has accumulated.
In certain cases, the interest had more than doubled the principle amounts.
“I advised the Accounting Officer to liaise with relevant authorities for improved funding with a view of minimizing penalties and the related charges,” the AG said.
He further directed that the Accounting Officer should also categorize and communicate to MDAs their contingent liabilities to enable them disclose in their respective financial statements.
He has consequently advised the Police Force to strategize in order ensure effective implementation of the EPS

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