Bodaboda
Boda-boda means a bicycle taxi or a motorcycle taxi in East Africa (from the English border so border , even boda-boda ). Both the bike or motorcycle and the driver are called Bodaboda.
Appearance
A locally made, robust luggage rack is attached to a sturdy standard bicycle, often made in India or China, with a foam seat cushion. Passengers and goods are transported.
For Motorrad Boda-Boda, the Boxer model from the Indian manufacturer Bajaj is primarily used in Uganda . In the neighboring countries, however, other models also dominate in some cases. The motorcycles are often reinforced on site with additional footrests and protectors for headlights. Various types of the Victor model from the Indian manufacturer TVS are predominant in Rwanda .
Origin and name
The first Bodaboda were active in the 1960s and 1970s (partly as smugglers) between the Ugandan - Kenyan border, especially in Busia , and from there steadily spread to other regions.
In Rwanda , the term moto is also common for corresponding motorcycle taxis.
Others
Compared to the rickshaw taxis commonly used in Asia , the Bodaboda have many advantages. They are lighter, faster and, above all, cheaper. They are also often used in city traffic to pass traffic jams. However, in most states, more than two people are not allowed on a standard bicycle or motorcycle. While in Uganda two or more passengers are often transported on a Boda-Boda and helmets are a rarity for passengers, the trade in Rwanda is now comprehensively regulated.
In the area of origin of the Bodaboda (Uganda, Kenya), especially in urban areas, motorcycle taxis now dominate on many routes . They are also sometimes called Bodaboda. According to Uganda's largest Boda-Boda union, an estimated 1,000,000 men are currently working as professional Boda-boda drivers in Uganda (2018). In Kampala alone, up to 200,000 Boda-Bodas are currently expected to operate.
safety
In many places where Boda-Bodas are active, they now represent a major traffic risk. A lack of safety precautions such as helmets, motorbikes that are not roadworthy, as well as overloading and disregarding traffic rules mean that Boda-Bodas are more likely to be involved in road accidents with seriously injured and fatalities are involved.
In response to a lack of security standards, so-called "Safe Bodas" have now become established. These Boda-Boda, which work according to the taxi app principle, are equipped with helmets for the passenger and should drive more cautiously. In addition, the registration and location should provide additional security.
Boda-Boda drivers are also repeatedly accused of being involved in criminal activities such as break-ins, thefts, robberies and even murders. In Uganda, a lack of regulation and registration of the Boda-Boda also ensures that criminals can easily pretend to be Boda-Boda drivers.
The case of the so-called Boda Boda 2010 group also caused a stir in Uganda . This Boda Boda driver group, which was formed under the patronage of the former police chief Kale Kayhura to support the local police, attracted attention again and again through blackmail and coercion as well as through involvement in robbery, which remained largely unpunished. After a robbery in which members of the Boda-Boda were allegedly involved in 2010 , the leaders of the group were finally arrested by the military police in early 2018 and the group disbanded.
Movies
- 360 ° - GEO report: Uganda - the way to the bicycle taxi , 2008.
