#thesebodamen

(courtesy New Vision)

Now that AIGP Felix Kaweesi was killed by men riding on motorcycles, the bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) riders are under fire from all corners. The President, the Police, the former CDF, the public - all firing from both barrels. Eh!

But I don't really see why the bodaboda operators are crying foul about how “anafair" everybody’s being towards them. If you are a community that doesn't live by the rules, then what do you expect? You’re in the transport business yes, and you are a (unruly) force to reckon with, but you are not regulated. Nobody knows the exact number of bodaboda operators in Uganda, nobody knows who their leaders are, they’re always fighting among themselves and against each other, they politicize issues, they allow themselves to be used for clandestine business, they steal from each other. Agreed, they are an informal sector, but even informal sectors have some form of regulation. Take a leaf from the traders. By the way, how many bodaboda stages do they have?

There is a (impolite) saying among the Baganda “Omubi y’apama mu lumbe.” Meaning that everybody will blame the ugly one for any misfortune… (Hope I got that right). So, in the wake of the murders that have been happening- the Sheikhs, Joan Kagezi, Major Kiggundu, the latest being Kaweesi, it is them, the boda operators, that fingers will be pointed at. Because many of them do the wrongest things, and do not live by the rules.

When they are told to wear helmets, they cry, “We will report you to Mzee!” When they are advised about reflector jackets and licences, they wail, “Oh, you don't like us!” And yet these things are for their own protection. When they are advised about how to keep safe and not drive at night, they ignore the advice and take passengers from Wandegeya to Wakiso for 3,000 shillings. Others spend the nights sleeping on their motorcycles.
They jump the traffic lights. They drive on the shoulders. They use the wrong side of the road, even on one-ways. They overtake and cut in front of cars, tear motorists tyres and scratch the car's paint. And take off. They never ever own up to their mistakes!
They don’t have riding permits. They carry up to six passengers. They basically break all the rules. Like rebels. They load a culvert on their bodas for 2,000 shillings, ignoring the fact that that motorcycle can tip over and kill them. They snatch women’s handbags after putting them on knife-point.

If they were regulated, they would have an idea if whoever committed the crime was a member of their association, or a masquerader. They would have already issued a strong statement disassociating themselves from this kind of crime. But now they are crying and their voice sounds so weak, so lifeless.

But they allow themselves to be taken advantage of, during campaigns - that free fuel they fight for, during demonstrations, even allowing themselves to commit crimes. They have nobody to fight for their rights, to negotiate on their behalf, to discipline them. Nobody respects people like that.
But there are some who’ve tried. Problem is… one bad apple spoils the whole barrel.

A few years ago, there was a special hire driver whose services I used. He told me he had been a bodaboda rider. His stage was opposite Fido Dido. Afro Studio then. He had to pay 1 million shillings- One Million Shillings- to get a place at the stage. That money was paid to the Chairperson of the stage who explained that he had to pay sijui who and who. The Hajji said he grew rich at that stage, he had many customers- “Ntwalira kino wano”, “Nkimira abaana ku ssomero". The stage had a SACCO- they would deposit and share weekly. He bought another motorcycle and hired it out. Eventually he was able to afford a car, which he turned into the special hire taxi he was driving. And abandoned bodas.

I know of a boda stage in Kawanda along Kampala- Bombo highway where one Ssalongo is the chairman. (Okay, I once thought he was a state operative but it doesn't matter now.) That man is strict, he cautions the members about their hygiene, how to dress, how they should treat customers, what kind of language you use. They even take turns cleaning the area where they park. He has each rider’s number, and knows where he stays, and who the next of kin is. He emphasizes to treat people with respect and they will respect you back.
Wamma big up Ssalongo!