‘Boda Boda’ cyclists are good at moving around in heavy traffic jam and accessing hard—to- reach areas by public means. It is a fact that ‘Boda Bodas’ are a necessary form of transport but we need some controls. Of recent there have been murders committed by people moving on ‘Boda bodas’ according to the Uganda police. We continue to see an increase in traffic accidents involving ‘boda boda’ cyclists. Just one accident involving ‘boda boda’ cyclists can paralyze road traffic for hours. ‘Boda bodas’ are able to mobilise themselves to attack or chase a car involved in the accident.
The number of commercial ‘Boda boda’ cyclists has steadily grown hence an increase in challenges. Banning ‘Boda bodas’ would worsen the unemployment problem in the country because it has become a profitable business venture.
There is need for urgent regulation of all ‘boda boda’operations. There must be specific numbers and colours assigned to them by different district authorities. These colours and numbers must be visible enough on all helmets, reflective jackets and motorcycles. The numbers and colours will help track movement within the selected zones in which they are supposed to operate. Putting numbers on all sides of commuter taxis was a successfully tactic that government could revisit with ‘Boda boda’ cyclists. Any regulation on their hours of operation will be unacceptable since people move due to emergencies at any time of the day and ‘Boda bodas’ may be the only available means.
The task of effective management of ‘Boda boda’ sector starts with their own legitimate leadership. Government should help organize ‘Boda boda’ leadership elections at all levels countrywide.
Ivan.N.Baliboola
PR & organisational diagnosis specialist
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