Overview:
Uganda's boda boda riders unveil new mobile app and SACCO to streamline services, promote financial empowerment and change public perception of the industry
KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s boda boda operators have launched a new mobile app aimed at improving the industry’s efficiency and empowering riders.
The app, unveiled at the Kampala Serena Hotel, connects travelers with riders and is part of the broader National Boda Boda Stage Development initiative. Union Chairperson Frank Mawenje said the app will protect riders from extortion by middlemen who have been taking advantage of them, especially those selling bikes on installment plans.
“We will no longer pay Shs11 million for a motorcycle that costs Shs5 million,” Mawenje said.
The union has also established a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) called the United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union to support riders’ financial empowerment. This initiative is expected to improve the livelihoods of boda boda operators and their families.
According to Fred Muwema, the union’s legal counsel, the organization is committed to changing the public perception of boda boda riders. “These are no longer lawbreakers,” he said. “The union will provide legal avenues to address the challenges faced by riders.”
The app launch and SACCO establishment mark a significant step toward unifying boda boda operators nationwide. With representatives from all regions attending the launch, the union is poised to become an umbrella organization for the industry.