Business owners in Njeru town council have defied an ordinance stopping them from operating past midnight.
Njeru town council authorities early last week slapped a ban on businesses operating beyond midnight after an increase in crime was reported.
The ban affects drinking places, music clubs, and boda boda motorcyclists. Those found operating past midnight are arrested and taken to court or their businesses are closed.
Ronald Kawuma, Njeru town council town clerk, says the ban came after a meeting held last week with all stake holders on security in the area. The meeting included police, Njeru town council LC3 Chairman, 36 LC1 chairpersons and their defense secretaries, who discussed the ways to stop night thefts and burglaries.
Paul Musoke, Njeru town council LC3 chairperson has directed all the local council leaders and parish chiefs to ensure that all the provisions of the ordinance are upheld.
The ban has, however, attracted criticism from some people who say it killing their businesses.
Peter Ndikuki, Chairman boda boda association in Njeru town council, says the motorcyclists cannot stop working at night because those who work in Jinja and Kampala leave before 6am and return late in the night, sometimes past midnight.
He says the motorcyclists are taken as a scapegoat by criminals, who after being arrested say the motorcyclists assist them in committing crime.
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Juma Bongole, the owner of Dinosaur discotheque in Njeru, says his business has been hit by the ban. He holds Karaoke shows twice a week, where most of his clients come to attend the shows until 2am. He says police should be more vigilant, carry out night checks and provide more security for business owners in Njeru town council to operate.
Joseph Isabirye, who runs Owen Bar in Mbiko, says most of his clients are taxi drivers who retire from work at midnight and drink up to the wee hours before they go off to sleep in his lodge.
He says by banning people’s movements in the night, places like bars will lose business.
Dickson Turyatemba, officer in charge of Njeru Police Station, says the community has helped in reporting persons violating the ban. Queensway pub has been closed and 15 suspected criminals have been arrested since implementing the ban.
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Dammy Buregyeya, LC1 Triangle zone in Njeru town council, says since the year 2012 began most of the suspects arrested and taken to police have mentioned boda boda cyclists to have helped them transport stolen property or suspects from the scene of crime.
Buregyeya, however, adds that the ban will not be taken easily by residents especially those working at night.
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