Uganda's Motorcycle Taxis Resist Safety Rules
2024-08-26
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1For tens of thousands of men in Uganda's capital, driving a motorcycle taxi is a way to make a living.
2For others, the vehicles known as boda-bodas are a necessary but dangerous form of transportation in a disorderly city.
3The young men sit on motorcycles in the morning heat.
4When they see someone who might be a passenger, they start their machines and compete to offer the person a ride.
5The motorcycle taxis are everywhere in East African capitals like Nairobi and Kigali.
6But in Kampala, the numbers are huge.
7The city of 3 million people has no mass transportation system and a high rate of unemployment.
8There are around 350,000 boda-bodas.
9The men driving them come from all parts of Uganda.
10They say there are no other jobs for them.
11"We just do this one because we have nothing to do," said one driver, Zubairi Idi Nyakuni.
12"All of us here...they have their degrees, they have their master's (degrees), but they are just here. They have nothing to do."
13The city has tried to control them and remove them from the central business area.
14But it is not easy.
15The government fears what might happen if they anger a large group of jobless men.
16Charles Mpagi is a spokesperson for Tugende, a company based in Kampala that finances boda-boda purchases.
17He said, "You have quite a large number of people that are young, who can't find jobs...and they do not have significant alternative income to get into other enterprises."
18About 76 percent of Uganda's 43 million people are under 35, according to government figures.
19There are few jobs for them.
20The central bank reports that just one percent of Ugandan workers make $270 or more in monthly pay.
21Uganda's unemployment rate for people between 18 and 30 was 17 percent in 2021 - higher than for other age groups.
22For young people in urban areas, it was 19 percent.
23President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986.
24He has long welcomed the support of boda-boda men, who create a loud presence at his political rallies.
25Museveni has gifted boda-bodas to supporters and is reducing the three-year licensing fee from nearly $100 to about $35.
26Motorcycles first appeared on the Uganda-Kenya border during political instability in the 1970s.
27The term "boda-boda" comes from the way drivers used to shout "border, border" at possible customers.
28At the time, they were also a way to transport smugglers and their merchandise.
29Today, they are everywhere in Uganda, taking children to school, people to offices, the sick to clinics and even the dead to their burials.
30Each year, police reports say that motorcycle taxis help carry out violent crime.
31The Ministry of Works and Transport also reports that the number of deadly accidents related to motorcycles across Uganda grew from 621 in 2014 to 1,404 in 2021.
32Road safety regulations for motorcycles were first approved in 2004.
33But traffic police are often unable to make arrests for motorcyclists breaking the law.
34They fear fights because drivers quickly come to support one another.
35Many boda-boda men pay the owner of their vehicle every month.
36Failure to pay means the boda-boda driver loses his job along with the motorcycle.
37Innocent Awita, a boda-boda man who left school in 2008, said there was "too much pressure" to keep his motorcycle.
38He pays $4 a day and pays for fuel and repairs.
39Some days are better than others, but Awita said he sometimes goes without enough earnings to make the daily payment.
40"I can work for three days without getting anything.
41But if I get something the next day, that can save my life," he said.
42I'm John Russell.
1For tens of thousands of men in Uganda's capital, driving a motorcycle taxi is a way to make a living. For others, the vehicles known as boda-bodas are a necessary but dangerous form of transportation in a disorderly city. 2The young men sit on motorcycles in the morning heat. When they see someone who might be a passenger, they start their machines and compete to offer the person a ride. 3The motorcycle taxis are everywhere in East African capitals like Nairobi and Kigali. But in Kampala, the numbers are huge. The city of 3 million people has no mass transportation system and a high rate of unemployment. There are around 350,000 boda-bodas. The men driving them come from all parts of Uganda. They say there are no other jobs for them. 4Nothing to do 5"We just do this one because we have nothing to do," said one driver, Zubairi Idi Nyakuni. "All of us here...they have their degrees, they have their master's (degrees), but they are just here. They have nothing to do." 6The city has tried to control them and remove them from the central business area. But it is not easy. The government fears what might happen if they anger a large group of jobless men. 7Charles Mpagi is a spokesperson for Tugende, a company based in Kampala that finances boda-boda purchases. He said, "You have quite a large number of people that are young, who can't find jobs...and they do not have significant alternative income to get into other enterprises." 8About 76 percent of Uganda's 43 million people are under 35, according to government figures. There are few jobs for them. The central bank reports that just one percent of Ugandan workers make $270 or more in monthly pay. 9Uganda's unemployment rate for people between 18 and 30 was 17 percent in 2021 - higher than for other age groups. For young people in urban areas, it was 19 percent. 10President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986. He has long welcomed the support of boda-boda men, who create a loud presence at his political rallies. Museveni has gifted boda-bodas to supporters and is reducing the three-year licensing fee from nearly $100 to about $35. 11'Border, border!' 12Motorcycles first appeared on the Uganda-Kenya border during political instability in the 1970s. The term "boda-boda" comes from the way drivers used to shout "border, border" at possible customers. 13At the time, they were also a way to transport smugglers and their merchandise. Today, they are everywhere in Uganda, taking children to school, people to offices, the sick to clinics and even the dead to their burials. 14Each year, police reports say that motorcycle taxis help carry out violent crime. The Ministry of Works and Transport also reports that the number of deadly accidents related to motorcycles across Uganda grew from 621 in 2014 to 1,404 in 2021. 15Road safety regulations for motorcycles were first approved in 2004. But traffic police are often unable to make arrests for motorcyclists breaking the law. They fear fights because drivers quickly come to support one another. 16Many boda-boda men pay the owner of their vehicle every month. Failure to pay means the boda-boda driver loses his job along with the motorcycle. 17Innocent Awita, a boda-boda man who left school in 2008, said there was "too much pressure" to keep his motorcycle. He pays $4 a day and pays for fuel and repairs. Some days are better than others, but Awita said he sometimes goes without enough earnings to make the daily payment. 18"I can work for three days without getting anything. But if I get something the next day, that can save my life," he said. 19I'm John Russell. 20Rodney Muhumuza reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 21______________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23taxi -n. a vehicle whose driver you pay for transportation service 24alternative - adj. offering or expressing a choice 25enterprise - n. a business organization 26customer -n. a person or group who buys goods or services 27smuggle - v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly 28merchandise -n. goods that are for sale to the public 29clinic -n. a small health center that treats minor or simple health problems 30What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.