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Local government minister Raphael Magyezi says the bodaboda industry is now the second biggest employer of Ugandans across the countryWhile addressing officials at Serena Hotel on Wednesday January 22^nd during the launch of the United Boda Boda Riders Co-operative Union.

Local government minister Raphael Magyezi stated that the bodaboda sector has become the second largest source of employment for Ugandans nationwide. He made this remark while speaking to officials at Serena Hotel on Wednesday, January 22nd, during the inauguration of the United Boda Boda Riders Co-operative Union.

Minister Magyezi said over the years, the bodaboda industry has evolved to become a key component of the transport system in Uganda adding that Uganda is estimated to have over 1.4 million riders across the country.

“The bodaboda industry is one of the industries that operates in all sub-counties of the country and it has now become the second highest employer in Uganda after agriculture,” Magyezi said adding the industry has helped to reduce the cost of transport across the country.

Magyezi, however, noted that the rapid growth of the industry continues to present substantial public concerns adding that for a long time, the bodaboda industry has been known for operating without an organisation, part of the causes of crime and crashes, especially freelance bodaboda riders without a stage.

“15% out of the 228,000 crimes that were reported last year were all related to the use of motorcycles and at least 10 motorcycles are stolen daily,” Magyezi said adding that because the bodaboda riders haven’t been organised, it has been hard for the Government to co-operate with them.

United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union chairperson Frank Mawejje said with the creation of the union, they have come up with a mobile application that will enable bodaboda riders around the country to get customers.

“All riders in the union will have to register with our mobile application where a person will have to pay shillings 5,000 per week and the customers who the riders on the other side will have to log onto the application to search for a nearby bodaboda,” Mawejje said.

He noted that the union aims at reducing the crime rate among cyclists and road users adding that if a customer registers requests for a bodaboda, their details will be kept in the union’s servers.

Traffic Police spokesperson Micheal Kananura said bodabodas are the primary means of transport for most Ugandans adding that there is a need for the riders and the Police to maintain road safety and sanity while on the road.

Kananura noted that the creation of the bodaboda union will create a more responsible transport system.

“As you are on the road, always remember to wear your helmet, because that’s part of road safety,” Kananura said, adding that out of 10 people who died daily on the roads, seven of them are boda boda cyclists.