KAYONZA - Police yesterday called on motor-cycle taxi operators to adhere to traffic rules and avoid over-speeding, citing that accidents in the region had recorded a sharp increase over the past months.

Police issued the warning at a meeting that attracted over 600 taxi-moto riders from the districts of Ngoma, Kayonza and Rwamagana.

According to the Assistant Commission Police (ACP), Sam Karemera, the Eastern Region Police Commander, the operators continue to ignore traffic rules despite several warnings.
 
"You must fulfil all requirements before you start driving or riding...You have overstretched our patience. It is now a matter of choice: Respect the law or face the wrath,” he told them.

Karemera further revealed that some taxi-moto operators also deal in illicit alcohol.

"We know that some of you are illicit alcohol traffickers, smoke marijuana and engage in smuggling. We do not prevent you from making profits, but not the expense of public order and security,” he said.

Citing over-speeding and overloading, Theogene Rwemarika, the chairman of the taxi-moto operators, association in the area, admitted that there were culprits among them. He, however, said that with increased vigilance, most will be exposed soon.

"Rural roads are the most dangerous...you know motorcycles overload and drive recklessly. But we are going to deploy our own security deep in villages and offenders will get caught,” he said.

Aphrodise Ayurwanda, from Ngoma District, however, complained that driving licences delay and those who pass driving tests sometimes spend almost a year before they receive them.

"We are punished as people who don’t have driving licences, yet we passed the exams 12 months ago. This should be put right,” he said.

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