English
Kinyarwanda
The enforcement of traffic rules and regulations for commercial motorcyclists is an important aspect in national safety, which Rwanda National Police (RNP) has managed to implement successfully, whereas many countries still grapple with the challenge.
The message was delivered by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Dr. Stephen Kasiima, in charge of Traffic and Road safety at Uganda Police Force (UPF) while on a study tour to Rwanda.
Dr Kasiima is heading a four-member Ugandan delegation that was received by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Headquarters in Kacyiru on May 25.
“Many police forces in the region and continent have failed to control commercial motorcyclists like the way RNP has done. In Uganda, the rate at which commercial motorcyclists breach traffic rules or engage in criminal acts is increasing. Therefore, we want to share best practices on how to regulate their conduct,” Dr. Kasiima said.
“Other than breaching traffic rules, these days, commercial motorcyclists in Uganda are engaged in crimes such as theft, murder and violence. We want to pick the best practices from Rwanda and put in place a mechanism throughout the country that can change this trend and promote law and order.”
In his remarks, IGP Gasana noted that high rates of urban growth and economic development require a concerted political will and involvement of society in ensuring that compliance to the rule of law is respected.
“Mindset change is important in ensuring that traffic laws are respected. Managing commercial motorcyclists in the city is a challenging task, but it can be overcome through capacity building for traffic officers to ensure that they do not compromise with law breakers but be strict on enforcing laws,” he said.
“It is also important to promote community policing strategies by getting closer to motorcyclists through their cooperatives. When they work through cooperatives, it becomes necessary for them to partner with police through the provision of information on suspects who abuse this business by breaching traffic rules or engaging in criminal acts.”
The three-day study tour is aimed at adopting strategies that can be implemented back in Uganda to ensure respect of traffic regulations by commercial motorcyclists.
