Reagan Komakech, a Boda –Boda Rider in Gulu City borrowed a motorcycle loan and has been paying a weekly amount of 70,000 for the last one year and two months. According to Komakech, he is still left with over 2 million shillings to complete the loan but unable to raise the required 70,000 shillings during the lockdown.
Boda Boda riders in Gulu District are struggling to pay loans
amidst the lockdown.
Last week, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni banned all motorcycle riders from
carrying passengers in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus disease
(COVID-19). Boda-boda riders were also restricted to operate up to
5 pm.
As a result, most riders within Gulu City have opted to park their motorcycles
at home with a handful defying the ban and carrying passengers in a bid to fend
for their families.
Reagan Komakech, a Boda –Boda Rider in Gulu City borrowed a motorcycle loan and
has been paying 70,000 each week for the last year and two months. According to
Komakech, he is still left with over 2 million shillings to complete the loan
but unable to raise the required 70,000 shillings during the lockdown.
According to Komakech, he hardly raises 5,000 shillings daily and
yet he also has a family to look after besides paying the loan.
// Cue in: “The problem with…
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Komakech also added that he tried engaging the lender for rescheduling
the loan payment, but they threatened to withdraw his motorcycle and disregard
the money he has already paid.
// Cue in: “I talked to…
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Thomas Obol, a businessman man who makes energy saving stoves says
that he borrowed 10 million shillings from DFCU Bank in May this year and is
supposed to pay 1.2 million shillings monthly.
Obol revealed that his movement to buy materials and sell the stoves
has been hindered during the ongoing lockdown making it impossible to raise
money to service the loan.
// Cue in: “The major problem…
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Emmy Ocen, the Speaker of Gulu City Boda –Boda Association says
because of the challenges the riders are facing due to the lockdown, some of
them have started flouting the presidential guidelines by carrying passengers
and using feeder roads.
Ocen asked the government to intervene to help the Boda –Boda Riders
with food so that the little money they get out of carrying luggage, they use
is for other things like servicing their loans.
One of the Managers at Watu Credits, a motorcycle loaning company
says they are handling their clients on a case by case.
Bernard Ogwal, the Regional Manager of Stanbic Bank, says that the
most affected among their clients are those in the transport business. He
explains that they are in dialogue with all their clients who are servicing
loans to find mutual ground for both parties.
David Mudong Onogm, the Aswa River Region Police
Spokesperson however accused a section of Boda –Boda rider of fraudulently
obtaining health movement permits to allow them to carry passengers who are not
sick. He says they are investigating the matter and very soon the culprits
shall be brought to book.
Jesse Johnson James
Freelancer