Spiro boda boda riders urged to form SACCOs for financial independence

KITGUM, November 6, 2026 – The Kitgum Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Joseph Okidi, has urged electric motorcycle taxi operators, popularly known as Spiro riders, to form Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies [SACCOs] to promote financial independence and enable them to benefit from government programmes.

Okidi made the call while addressing the riders during a security meeting held recently at Kitgum Central Police Station.

He said organising themselves into SACCOs would improve their access to government-funded programmes while providing an alternative source of affordable credit through low-interest loans.

“When you form yourselves into a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society, this will make it easy for you to benefit from government-funded projects,” Okidi said.

He explained that SACCOs would also provide financial support to riders struggling to meet their daily motorcycle loan repayments.

“Being in a SACCO will be like a backup on the money you get from the transportation business and, in case one might have failed to raise the required amount needed to pay for a motorcycle loan, he or she can use the money from the SACCO,” he added.

Aspiring Spiro motorcycle owners are required to make an initial deposit of between Shs 120,000 and Shs 800,000, depending on the asset financing company, before beginning daily repayments of between Shs9,500 and Shs 10,500 over a period of one to two years.

Ambrose Henry Tolit, chairperson of the Kitgum Spiro Motorcycle Riders Association, said the association currently has 95 fully registered members out of an estimated 300 Spiro riders operating in the district. All the registered members acquired their motorcycles through loan financing.

Tolit identified reluctance among some riders to join the association as one of its major challenges.

“As an association, we are convincing members to join because the main vision of the association is to unite the Spiro riders together,” he said.

He said prospective members are required to pay Shs 5,000 for membership and subscription.

Tolit also raised concerns about the inadequate number of battery-swapping stations in Kitgum Municipality, saying the two existing facilities were insufficient to serve the growing number of electric motorcycle riders.

The stations are located at Petro City Fuel Station, opposite Christ the King Church, and in Alango Cell.

Meanwhile, the Kitgum District Police Commander, Benedict Igama, cautioned riders against hiring out their motorcycles to strangers, warning that criminals were using the bikes to rob people and steal property and livestock at night.

He said criminals were taking advantage of the electric motorcycles’ quiet operation to commit offences under the cover of darkness, often after residents had gone to sleep.

The security meeting brought together district leaders, police officers and Spiro riders to discuss discipline, road safety and economic empowerment in the district’s growing electric boda boda industry.

https://thecooperator.news/masindi-boda-boda-riders-reject-proposed-tax-citing-financial-hardships/

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