KAMPALA – President Museveni (during his adress on Monday night), claimed boda bodas are not an effective means of public transport! Who decides this: the president or commuters? Ugandan commuters have consistently voted with their wallets – for boda bodas as the most convenient and effective means of public transport!
Whatever one’s views about boda bodas, the total revenue generated by them is Shs 13 trillion per year, 10% of Uganda’s GDP! They employ 1.2m youths and provide livelihood to 6m Ugandans! 90% of boda boda business is on passenger transport, not cargo! So open boda bodas NOW!!
If the president is not willing to let boda bodas carry passengers, he should provide a solution to the incomes of 1.2m riders and the livelihoods of 6m Ugandans! If not, he should find ways to allow boda bodas to carry passengers while minimizing the risk of spreading covid!
We in the business of supporting unemployed youths own assets (boda bodas) from which they derive their livelihood have ideas on how to allow boda bodas carry passengers with little or no risk of spreading covid! Rather than make decisions alone, the government should consult us.
Andrew Mwenda in a Ugandan veteran journalist and the founder of The Independent
