The government of Uganda has said the newly invented “drive-ride hooting” protest by opposition politicians tarnishes the image of the country.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kampala, Alice Muwanguzi told the people at the swearing-in function of Nakawa Municipality Mayor, Benjamin Kalumba on May 26 that foreigners underrate Uganda when they hear such noise in the capital city.

Muwanguzi adds that the initiators of the campaign are also demeaning their names before the international world.

She warns that the government will wage rigorous arrests of the perpetrators until they stop the vice.

Meanwhile the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Idd Ibin Senkumbi says that so far 200 drivers have been summoned in three days and more are on the list.

Senkumbi adds that the summoned will be charged for public nuisance and if convicted in court they will be imprisoned for not more than a year or fined not less than 400,000 shillings.

The ‘drive-ride hooting’ campaign was launched by the Activists for Change (A4C) pressure group last week for people whose nature of work cannot allow them to participate in the walk to work campaign against the soaring prices of commodities.

The new campaign started on May 23 and since then most of the motorists mostly in Kampala are hooting at 5PM daily.

On its launch, the coordinator of the A4C, Mathias Mpuuga said that whereas motorists will be hooting, other people shall be banging anything that can cause noise like saucepans in kitchens, cutlery in restaurants and tables in offices.

The aim of the protests is to remind government to solve the problem of escalating prices of food, fuel and other basic commodities.

By Issa Asuman