All Boda boda riders operating in Kampala will be forced to register under ride-hailing companies like Uberboda, Safeboda, and Bolt forcing the industry to go digital after the lockdown if all goes as planned. This is a move that is expected to change the face of the motorcycle-riding industry in Uganda as we know it.
Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) is proposing new regulations for boda boda (commercial) motorcycles and taxi operations in the nation’s capital city. This has not gone well with the political wing that governs the city as Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago feels this will be a huge mistake accusing the technical wing of Kampala of taking advantage of the current pandemic to impose these harsh regulations. He said;
In the detail, after the lockdown, boda-bodas will continue operating by carrying cargo only and abiding by the curfew time, as they formalize their membership with registered digital companies like SafeBoda, Uber, and Bolt, among others, in the next 21 days”
KCCA technocrats have identified about 970 Boda boda stages of which 585 of them have been ear-marked to continue operations as a measure to curb the traffic jam and reduce motorcycle-related accidents in the city. We don’t have all the details were not revealed, but what is for sure there will be Boda boda free zones in Kampala soon.
If KCCA’s plans are carried out successfully, once the lockdown is lifted, all taxis will remain prohibited to operate in the city for 28 days. They will be required to pay KCCA fees, the first 42 days will be used to obtain a route chart and allocated stages from the transport licensing Board at the end of a verification process. The city council is also in the process of renovating the Old taxi park and they will gazette a place where they will operate in the meantime. It is only after 42 days that the registered taxis will only be allowed to operate within Kampala under very strict measures. If all goes as planned, this will be a clear loss for the political wing at KCCA.
If all these regulations are implemented by KCCA, it could have ripple effects on the economy. 2021 is around the corner and we are soon going into elections period– one would wonder how this will affect the outcome of voting given both boda boda and taxi operators contribute a huge vote in the city center. So far, the reactions of policymakers to the activities of digital platforms like Safe boda and Uber have largely been unpredictable.
With an estimated 200,000 boda bodas operating in Kampala, this largely unregulated sector will be forced to undertake a huge transformation and if not managed well, the year 2020 is set to be unpredictable for motorcycle operators.
Are boba boda riders online?
There is also the question of the mobile connectivity status of the boda boda riders and Ugandans at large. The shift to digital apps like safe boda or Uber will mean that all of them will have to own a smartphone of some kind which is loaded with data 24/7. These apps give a sense of safety for the riders, as driving on any of these platforms usually requires updated vehicle papers, CID clearance, licenses, a smartphone, and some level of literacy to operate their respective smartphone apps.
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There is no doubt that Safe boda leads Uganda’s motorcycle hailing sector, other prominent e-hailing companies include; Uber with Uberboda, Bolt, Dial Jack, and inDriver. These upcoming changes will mean a clear win for such companies but they have a huge task of managing the motorcycle sector whose image has been tainted with safety issues and robberies that contribute to the high crime rates in and out of the city. But will also intensify competition in Uganda’s ride-hailing space.
As of January 2020 UCC report, Uganda internet market was dominated by mobile internet. The mobile internet subscription stood at 15.2 million up from 14.3 million and Internet penetration grew from 36.8% to 37.9%, which reflected the fact that there is still more room to grow for the telecom industry when it comes to mobile delivery.
This is also a win for telecom companies as these platforms are online and mostly web or app-based, it’s very likely that more persons will buy smartphones and make use of the Internet that the mobile telecom companies offer.
It is a mixed reaction when it comes to the normal wanaichi who use normal boda bodas on a daily. Some of them are not connected to the internet which will make it hard for them to adopt the use of e-hailing apps. Others have already had bad experiences with these app-based services especially during high demanding peak times when everyone is on commute.
