Uganda Launches National Boda-Boda Stage Development Model to Revolutionize Transport Sector

                        Hon. Raphael Magyezi

The Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, officially launched the National Boda-Boda Stage Development Model (NBSDM) at a grand ceremony held at the Serena Victoria Ballroom in Kampala. 

The launch event, attended by key stakeholders, government officials, and enthusiastic boda-boda riders, marked a significant step toward addressing the challenges facing Uganda’s fast-growing motorcycle taxi sector.

Magyezi emphasized that the NBSDM aims to bring structure and organization to the boda-boda industry, ensuring its sustainable growth and improving the livelihoods of riders. 

He likened the model to the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative designed to uplift Ugandans by transitioning them from subsistence farming to income-generating activities in the formal economy.

Addressing an energetic audience of boda-boda riders and officials on Tuesday, Minister Magyezi underscored the need for a unified digital platform that would enhance safety, combat crime, streamline operations, and facilitate efficient sector regulation. 

“This platform will not only resolve existing sector challenges but also integrate boda-boda operations into a structured value chain, fostering stakeholder collaboration and ensuring fair distribution of benefits,” Magyezi stated.

The minister reassured boda-boda unions of the government’s unwavering commitment to their success. 

“Now that you are organized, government support is not just possible—it is guaranteed. The previous delays in assistance were due to a lack of sector organization,” he noted.

Accompanying the minister at the launch were Andrew Moses Awany, President of the Uganda Local Government Secretariat (ULGA), and Sanya K.F. Wilson, President of the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda (UAAU). 

Several other key stakeholders, including officials from the Boda-Boda Riders Cooperative Union, were also present to witness the groundbreaking initiative.

During the event, ULGA Secretary General Ricky Okuku commended local government leaders for their continuous support and urged them to collaborate closely with boda-boda leadership within their jurisdictions to ensure the success of NBSDM.

He highlighted the key benefits of the initiative, including enhanced safety through improved regulation, reduced crime via rider verification, increased operational efficiency to ease traffic congestion, the potential establishment of a dedicated Boda-Boda bank, and improved revenue collection mechanisms for local governments.Meanwhile, in a move to expand its reach nationwide, the United Boda-Boda Cooperative Union inaugurated its first set of offices in Kasanga, Kampala. 

This milestone marks the beginning of a countrywide rollout aimed at strengthening the cooperative network and ensuring effective implementation of the NBSDM.With the government’s renewed focus on formalizing the boda-boda sector, the launch of the NBSDM signals a transformative era for Uganda’s transport industry, promising safer, more efficient, and well-regulated operations for riders and passengers alike.

Credit: ind

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