Ssebulime died a reclusive man — bikers boss

By Julius Mwesigye

At the time of his death, Ronald Ssebulime was a widower and single father of three girls having lost his wife in labour. To his relatives, the loss of his wife was a turning point. His sister Sylvia Nakayita revealed that Ssebulime chose not to remarry after the incident, choosing to raise his kids singlehandedly with the help of his mum and sisters.

In trying to peek deeper into Ssebulime’s life, The Second Opinion has exclusively learnt that his wife’s demise changed aspects of his other life.

Umar Ssekitto, the spokesperson of the Central Region Bikers’ Association, says the deceased became reclusive and even withdrew from the bikers’ social groupings and events after his wife’s death.

“Ssebulime was our member for a long time but he abruptly became withdrawn after the death of his wife (Florence Zawedde who died in 2013). He stopped engaging in our events about six years ago,” Ssekitto says.

He adds that whereas Ssebulime was no longer actively engaged in their social events, they still considered him as one of them. “That is why we contributed Shs4m towards his burial in conformity with our organisation’s guidelines,” he says.

Not a bad man

Although Ssekitto cannot comment much on the events leading to Ssebulime’s arrest and murder, he says that during the time they spent with him he was a noble man without any criminal traits or records.

He thus attributes his murder to the nature of their trade as well as wrong perception towards bikers by the public.

“Many people have a misconception that bikers are just idle fun-loving people with no clear jobs. That is wrong because we are an organized group of fun-loving but charitable and responsible Ugandans from different professional backgrounds like Doctors, Engineers and builders,” Ssekitto says. He cites the example of Ssebulime who, despite being a biker with a love for big bikes, was a celebrated professional welder.

According to Ssekitto, the Central Region Bikers’ Association has 200 bikers spread across their branches in Kireka, Bwaise, Busega, Kajjansi, and along Gayaza and Hoima roads. Each of the registered members that subscribes to the Central region under their Chairman Moses Matovu ‘Sacho’ pays a burial contribution fee (mabugo) of Shs20, 000, when a colleague loses a close relative.

President’s order big risk

Ssekitto, however confesses that while they derive fun from their fast rides on their big bikes, they are aware of what a soft target they can be especially in light of the presidential directive that was issued regarding hooded motorcyclists.

“Because we ride big bicycles and at high speeds, we have to protect ourselves with heavy attire and hoods/helmets — (just like Ssebulime was dressed at the time he was suspected of wanting to harm the minister). So, many times we become soft targets to paranoid motorists,” he says.

Moses Byron Jjemba, another member of the central bikers association says their sheer knack for speed and competition with big cars on the roads exposes them to risk of suspicion by paranoid motorists. “We ride heavy, powerful bikes, so we always want to show that our machines are superior to these big cars. To prove this we drive past them and then wait for them ahead. We sometimes come back and get behind the cars and then chase them afresh— it is some sort of bikers’ game,” he added. Jjemba’s explanation possibly answers Minister Nantaba’s question as to why Ssebulime reappeared several times after riding past her car.

And Ssekitto notes that most security convoys know the bikers’ games and have thus engaged them on how to relate. “When we meet with patrol vehicles or convoys, they ask us to either move ahead of them or stay behind and let them carry out their duties without us disturbing them. “We therefore don’t pose any threat to security; we are not killers,” Ssekitto says.

He also contends that it is nearly impossible to use their bikes for murder missions because they easily stand out; are very noisy and too bulky to evacuate from murder scenes without easily being noticed.

“Ssebulime was riding a big bike; a 1200cc and I think one cannot attempt an assassination on such a bike. Indeed, I think that is why the Minister’s bodyguard (Tugume) did not shoot Ssebulime when she ordered him to,” Ssekitto said.

He however regrets that while Ssebulime’s plight has gained much publicity, it is not the first of such unfortunate killings of bikers.

He notes that earlier on, his association lost two members; a one Olanya who was killed by a cop in Bwaise and Kigongo who was knocked by a police patrol car on Entebbe Road. “Olanya was killed by a policeman on New Year’s Eve but to date justice has never been delivered,” Ssekitto says.

He also adds that while they love their fun, they are encumbered by high taxes by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). This probably explains why some bikers have been found to swap plate numbers of their bikes with those of smaller bikes that attract smaller tax liabilities. This aspect has already emerged with Ssebulime’s bike, whose plate was reportedly traced to the bike of a one Sseremba, an alleged criminal.

“We do not ride for commercial purposes like the Boda Boda cyclists. That’s why we want the taxes reduced or waived to enable our members freely pay this tax without resorting to such shortcuts,” he said in an interview at their offices on Noor Emporium building, near Usafi Market. He however adds that their bikes are registered thanks to the effort of the Commissioner of Police in charge of Traffic (Steven Kasiima).

About the Association

Meanwhile, the bikers say they have been in existence for 20 years; first under the stewardship of Hajji Hassan Katoto for 15 years and now under Moses Matovu Sacho, who has been chairman for two years.

“In our association there are eight women, and we help them in various ways including acquiring for them smaller bikes,” Ssekitto says, emphasizing that bikers are just like any other fun-lovers who spend dearly on something they are passionate about.

Among the women, Ssekitto says, is one Brenda Nakabuye aka Queen who rides a 750cc bike, and a one Fifi who rides a 400cc bike.

According to Ssekitto, because of the rare entertainment they offer with antics on display, bikers are trusted and are at times hired by events’ organizers, including several bigwigs in government. He also said they engage in charitable activities including making three tours a year to help the less privileged and on average, hold about 10 meetings every year, all aimed at among others, emphasizing discipline and cooperation among the members.

He said that the first event on the Central Region calendar in 2019 is in April (Friday 5th- Tuesday 9th), and that this year they would be going to Fort Portal to give help to pupils of Karambi Primary School. The tour will also see them visit Kasese district. The other two tours, one in August and organized by the Bwaise branch, will head to Hoima, while the last calendar event in November will focus on Kyotera.

Speaking about the costs associated with their passion, Ssekitto said that the different bikes cost anywhere between Shs20-60 million (inclusive of taxes), while a set of protective clothing costs about Shs4m.