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...
May 20, 2026