KAMPALA BODA BODA RIDERS GET REFLECTOR JACKETS, CAUTIONED ON SAFETY

Boda boda riders in Kampala City have been urged to observe proper safety and traffic measures while on the road to reduce accidents.

The call has been made by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka who said most road accidents in the city are attributed to the boda boda riders.

According to police reports, boda boda is one of the major causes of accidents in the country, with at least four people dying due to motorcycle.

“In Kampala we register 10-20 accidents involving boda bodas on a daily basis,” Kisaka said.

She made the call on Monday during an event to distribute reflector jackets to boda boda riders across the city. At least 5,000 reflector jackets were distributed.

“We believe these will be essential in reducing accidents that happen in the city every day,” Kisaka said.

The jackets which also have public health information on how to prevent Ebola virus were procured by KCCA with support from the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).

Kampala has five divisions and each division was given 1,000 reflector jackets which are currently a requirement for one to ride a boda boda in the city.

“If the sector players can uphold and observe proper traffic rules and safety measures put by the government, then the accidents would be reduced,” Kisaka said.

Kisaka also commended the boda boda riders for the good working relationship as the Authority works towards organizing the boda boda sector.

“We want to organize the industry, we are not chasing you from the city and I want to thank you for being supportive to ensure we organize the Boda Boda Industry,” Kisaka said.

The organizing of the boda boda sector started with the census, followed by gazzeting of stages where riders will operate from and also includes training of riders from a boda boda driving school so that they can be licensed to operate in the city.

“We are going to have limited gazzeted stages to ease on regulation and making the city smart. The stages will be modern with waiting shades,” Kisaka said.

KCCA has an estimated 150,000 boda boda riders but only 42,000 have been registered in the city.

Frank Mawejje, the Kampala District Boda Boda rider’s chairperson thanked KCCA for giving them the reflector jackets and for involving them in the process of organizing the boda boda sector.

“I'm happy that ED has decided to meet us again. The city is ours and everyone in it is useful and should benefit from the opportunities available. We shouldn’t be chased out of the city,” Mwanje said.

Kanyike Kiviri the Boda Boda chairperson Kampala Central, Isabirey Umar Babalanda Boda Boda Chairperson Makindye, Rashid Kawawa of Rubaga all attended the event.

“Thank you for giving us the reflector jackets and the work you are doing to organize the industry. However every division should have its own color,” Babalanda said.