Women in the boda boda industry in Kampala have called for improved road safety and greater protection for female riders, citing rising accidents, harsh working conditions and persistent stigma in the sector.
The concerns emerged during a Mother’s Day engagement in Kampala on Sunday, where members of the Twezimbe Women Boda Boda Association said female riders continue to face challenges ranging from reckless motorists and nighttime insecurity to discrimination in the male-dominated industry.
The association, which has more than 150 female riders, says many women have turned to boda boda riding as a source of livelihood to support their families amid limited employment opportunities.
Ms Dathive Mukeshimana, the Chairperson of the association, said female riders face heightened risks on the road, especially at night.
‘It is challenging to be both a mother and a boda boda rider because the work itself is risky. We operate in an environment where accidents and fatalities are common due to reckless driving,’ she said.
She added that negative public perception toward women riders continues to affect their work.
‘Our biggest prayer is to return home safely to our children every day. We request that road safety guidelines be tightened and improve the status of the roads, which also leads to accident shortcomings,’ she said.
Boda boda remains one of the most widely used means of transport in Kampala and other urban centres, employing thousands of youths and increasingly attracting women seeking income-generating opportunities.
However, road safety experts have repeatedly warned that the sector also contributes significantly to road crashes, injuries and deaths due to speeding, poor road discipline and limited use of protective gear.
According to transport sector stakeholders, women riders often face additional barriers, including harassment, limited access to financial support and doubts about their ability to compete in the transport business.
During the engagement, Mr Steven Turyarugayo, the Public Relations Consultant with the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), said there is a need to support road safety awareness among boda boda riders.
‘Women in the transport sector are playing a major economic role, yet they remain vulnerable on the roads,’ he said.
The engagement also highlighted calls for more sensitisation on responsible road use among motorists and riders as Uganda continues to grapple with increasing road crashes, particularly involving motorcycles.
The latest road safety reports have consistently identified boda bodas among the leading contributors to traffic injuries and fatalities in the country, especially in urban areas such as Kampala.
Mr Godwin Tumwesigye, the Officer in Charge of Traffic at Nateete Police Station, urged motorcyclists to prioritise safety by wearing standard helmets and ensuring passengers are also protected.
‘Helmets greatly reduce the chances of severe head injuries during crashes,’ he said.
Mr Tumwesigye also cautioned riders against speeding, dangerous overtaking and carrying excess passengers, especially on busy roads.
‘Road users must remain alert, obey traffic signs and use reflective gear, particularly at night and during bad weather conditions when visibility is poor,’ he added.
The 2025 Annual police report indicated that road traffic deaths in Uganda rose to 5383 in 2025 from 5144 deaths in 2024, averaging 15 fatalities per day.