Boda Bodas: How the hustle for livelihood risks lives
By Joe Walker
“Tekaawo Line .. asibira mu ntaana!
Ssente Tesiinga bulamu!”
SAFETY is more than arriving FAST.
Money is sweet, but your life is more precious. This was the message we cried out as walked around the city jazzing with Boda riders about road safety. We watched, walked, and listened as they talked carrying around broken shells of helmets on their bikes to starve off Traffic officers. Some of the issues we observed and that were raised by the boda riders included the following.
– No safety gear - Overloading, 2 passengers and luggage on one motorcycle - Rough life from rogue enforcement officers - Tough hustlers fending for their families - Alcohol abuse and riding under the influence - Worryingly wrong perception about law and order - No education These were comments raised by Boda-Boda riders in Katwe, Ndeeba, Rubaga, Mengo, Bakuli and Nakasero. At every point we interacted with Boda riders, the condition of their protective gear like helmets, reflective jackets and footwear was alarming to see. Many of them were carrying around broken shells of helmets on their bikes to stave off traffic officers; such helmets are now actually a danger to the riders. Many were wearing loose footwear including crocs and very few had reflector jackets on. We shared the few that we carried for them.
From the start of our walk at Sheraton Hotel, the sight of overloaded bikes was everywhere. When we spoke to them, we realised there’s an unspoken pain in the risk. Most of the riders seem aware of the related risks but they do it any way. They need the money and the passenger can’t afford a separate bike for their luggage.
When we shared the dangers of running the traffic lights, for a moment, they looked remorseful. And when Dr. Tendo Kizza, a surgeon, shared with them the realities in the hospital wards in the event one gets involved in a crash, from losing limbs to very high medical bills, it hit home and they all looked scared and repentant.
As we walked to another Boda stage, we encountered a group riding in the wrong lane, others shouting pedestrians off the walkway. Then we were invaded by a swarm of riders in the Non-Motorized Transport corridor. At this point we were reminded that infrastructure alone without matching enforcement to ensure proper utilization, won’t make the roads safe.
And listening to the Boda guys, enforcement has been abused one too many times by wrong elements within the security forces and opportunists hiding behind the laws and regulations for a quick buck. At every stage the riders decried the harassment and extortion by security personnel both in uniform and their fronts in plain clothes.
I hope that next time you are jumping on a boda you check the condition of the bike and the state of the rider before you ask them to fly! Some bikes looked in really bad shape – worn out tyres and no side mirrors. Some riders looked stoned and reeked of alcohol. You don’t wish to ask a rider under influence to fly, they may land you in the arms of the undertaker. Motorcycles account for more than 50% of the nation’s victims of road crashes in Uganda.
Jim Rohn, an author, says in one of his books, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
The gloomy statistics should spur the nation into immediate action like proper use of protective gear, observing speed limits, and respecting traffic lights to save lives. But to build habits that will sustainably protect livelihoods, we’ll need to build proper infrastructure, ensure every rider gets proper road safety training and strict and consistent law enforcement. Safe roads are a long journey ahead but with every passing day, without taking a right step, our opportunity to save lives is sliding further away.
The best time for ACTION is now.
