PDTU & FAQ

Motorcycle taxis or the commonly referred to as boda bodas have become one of the more popular transport means in Uganda and particularly in Kampala because they are versatile and flexible; they are able to beat the ever-increasing traffic jam and get people and goods anywhere in time. However, this comes with tremendous challenges as the number of motorcycles on our roads are increasing daily. Since the first citation of motorcycle taxis in Uganda in 1980, the country has gone on to register more than one million motorcycles and regulating them has continued to be a challenge for the regulatory institutions.

According to the Annual Crime Report 2020, 3,663 people died on our roads and out of these 1,486 were Boda Boda riders and Boda boda passengers; making them the second vulnerable road users after pedestrians.  In 2020 alone, Kampala Metropolitan South registered 1,955 road crashes and of these 220 were fatal hence the rationale to start the training in this region. Among the reasons for these crashes is inadequate training and awareness; “Sometimes we are held for committing traffic offences that we do not know were offences” says one boda boda cyclist.

In order to increase road safety knowledge and accountability among these important but at-risk service providers, Safe Way Right Way has introduced a phased training approach that aspires to have a trickle-down effect in the community starting with a Training of Trainers of 22 Road Safety Champions from Kampala Metropolitan South.  The selected Champions are leaders in the boda boda community who will ably deliver short peer to peer training with support from Safe Way Right Way regularly to tackle the most pressing issues that can mitigate crashes such as speeding, road signs & highway code, use of safety helmet,  use of drugs and narcotics, fatigue, carrying loads and customer care among others.  

The training was officially opened by Salongo Rogers Nsereko SP, the Deputy Police Commander Kampala Metropolitan who provided an overview of the road safety situation in Kampala and pledged his support to move the training program forward.

The Training of Trainers was carried out by an industry expert trainer Mr Paul Kwamusi of Integrated Transport Systems who stressed the need for training for all road users particularly those that are considered high risk “a boda boda is a silent killer in Uganda. People who die in boda boda accidents are never broadcast in the news but when you visit causality wards of most of the hospitals in Uganda, you will understand how much people are suffering as a result of boda boda related crashes”

The training model is such that the 22 individuals who have been imparted with training skills and content proceed to train their colleagues through short weekly sessions at their boda stations and later on within their communities with the support of Safe Way Right Way and Traffic Police. Although this is a new approach according to the trainees, they are happy to embrace it and are positive about the possible outcome. “Although I did not get a lot of formal education, I have managed to get many leadership roles among my community and the ones I lead trust and respect me irrespective of their level of education. The training we have got is very important and I look forward to sharing this knowledge with my fellow boda boda riders” said Muyimbwa Latiff, the Chairman Boda Boda Association, Industrial Area.

The training was part of the activities to commemorate the United Nations Global Road Safety Week under the theme Streets for Life. This year the emphasis was put on the need to reduce the speed to 30km/hr in built-up areas so as to reduce or stop crashes.

Safe Way Right Way’s activities are supported by its Industry Partners Total Uganda Limited, Total E&P Uganda, Bollore Transport and Logistics Uganda, Toyota Uganda, and the Motorcentre East Africa.