Geoffrey Osborn Ochieng, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC) has directed that all boda boda riders in Amuru district to vaccinate against COVID-19 if they want to operate in Amuru.
In his letter to the District Health Officer, Ochieng says boda boda riders are frontline public service persons that need to be protected against the virus as a mitigation measure to contain rapid spread.
The RDC, who chairs the district Covid-19 taskforce, said the move is aimed at saving the lives.
Boda Boda operators are not part of the group prioritized by government in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination exercise.
However, the RDC believes they should be priotized as they ferry passengers in and out of the Covid-19 “disease infected” zones.
Four months ago, Ochieng issued an ultimatum where he threatened to block health workers, who refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, from accessing health facilities to work.