On February 6, boda boda drivers and passengers understandably celebrated after the government allowed their return to full-time operations after nearly two years of Covid-19 induced lockdowns and curfews. Normal service return also meant a return of all the problems that come with the sector
A usual Kampala traveler then started witnessing boda bodas on every street, shooting between private cruisers and public vehicles stuck in never-ending traffic jams.
However, despite being known for offering convenience and speed, taking one exactly where they need to go without having to squeeze into a Taxi with thirteen other passengers or footing on rough roads, the ubiquitous motorcycles have for long not been regulated.
It’s in this regard that the Government has decided to come up with measures on how to keep regulating the sector in the essence of making Kampala a much more habitable, secure, and admirable City.
Kampala Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Hudu Husein, while he addressed Journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, said the move is part of the government’s commitment to having a clean, secure, and developing Capital City that all Ugandans can be proud of.
He said among the measures still under review and discussion on an administrative and technical level is having all Boda Boda riders registered.
“Each boda boda rider operating in Kampala and its metropolitan areas must be registered,” he said.
The RCC said that the registration that has already commenced at the Division level shall also ascertain that every registered rider shall belong to one stage and shall be registered as belonging to that particular stage alone with the condition of only operating within his stage area.
To distinguish riders of a particular stage from others, the RCC said QR codes shall be implemented to have a consolidated database for riders.
“Stage Riders shall be given a particular reflector jacket color which shall be coded with a QR code with a database kept for identification,” he said.
The RCC further said that a boda will only be allowed to ride to the next stage or zone and not beyond.
He however urged Boda Boda riders to effectively embrace change noting that it’s meant to organize not to disorganize the sector.
“These measures are still at the level of administrative review, they are in good faith and aimed at decongestion of bodas in the city and allow all bodas to operate in an organized way,” he said.
