By Ali Nebende.
Workers Member Of Parliament Dr Abdulhu Byakatonda provided motorcycles to his constituencies (voters) at subsidized prices, own motorcycles a move to create sustainable employment in the fight against poverty.
“It would be an overwhelming task for many Ugandans to raise about sh4.5m at once to buy a Bodaboda, however there is a possibility for one to own it in instalments.” Hon. Byakatonda said
“This has prompted me to lobby a company called Simba Automotives Ltd, Kampala to avail motorbikes in Uganda which offers a brand name UG BOSS.”
Hon. Byakatonda said it is timely in Uganda where the unemployment rates are high, many youth and adults, usually supporting extended families, work as motorcycle (boda-bodas) operators.
“The scheme helps motorcycle (boda-boda) riders buy their own motorcycles in 18 Months through affordable lease agreement, giving them the means to control their own business and kick-start a path to financial independence.” the legislator said.
The need to address a social challenge:
Hon. Byakatonda explained that according to research most motorcycle taxi or boda-boda riders cannot afford a motorcycle, nor access financing from mainstream options to buy one. Instead, they use a large portion of their earnings to rent their motorcycles and their incomes are, therefore, reduced.”
Why did you choose bodaboda business?
The Workers constituency comprises in the formal and informal sectors. The informal economy consists of activities that have market value but are not formally registered. These embraces occupations such as taxi drivers, bodaboda riders, hawkers, such businesses are owned by individual household members.
The formal sector includes Private Businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, petrol stations, banks, insurance companies, among others such business follow the necessary legal requirements and legally employs people.
He said he ensured the sectors form associations that work along with registered Trade Unions in Uganda like The National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) and the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU). Both centers will have a total of 46 Labour Unions Affiliates.
Under the informal sector residents of Kibuku district formed Union of Kibuku District Development Initiative (UKIDI). ” I mobilized over 100 motorcycles supplied by Simba Automotive Ltd, Kampala who sold them at affordable installments to the beneficiaries. The first batch was launched by H.E The President of the Republic of Uganda during the Poverty Sensitization tour in 2015.
Also under the formal sector the members of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) got the same Boda Boda on credit. UNMU embraces membership 800,000 female and male nurses and midwives employed in government and private hospitals country wide.
This was launched by the Minister of State for Public Service Hon. Mary Mugosa on 5th of February, 2022.
Payments in installments
Hon Byakatonda said: “Under the scheme, a brand new motorcycle costs UShs4.0m to be payable in UShs.200,000/= for a period of 18 months, deducted from the members’ salary.The beneficiaries will be provided with a digital log book to own the motorcycle, after completing payment of the motorcycle.” The option for cash clients goes to over UShs.4.2m.
“This helps boda-boda riders own an income-generating asset, directly improving their livelihoods and providing a pathway out of poverty, other benefits such as insurance, driving permits, safety training, financial literacy training and other products,” he said.
About two decades ago, Ugandans woke up to a new form of transport business – the boda boda.
The business laid its foundation in the continued growth of traffic with passengers searching for alternative means to the inconveniencing public transport.
Over 70 per cent of Ugandans use public transport, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, motorcycles majority of which are engaged in commercial activities boda bada.
Byakatonda says However, the irony is that 85per cent of these motorcycles are not owned by the riders themselves but make a dependable livelihood for both the urban and rural youth.
On a daily basis an operator who doesn’t own a bodaboda pays UShs.10,000/= to the owner remaining with equally the same amount of money. It would be a difficult task for many Ugandans to raise about UShs.4.5m once to buy a boda boda, however one can own it in instalments.
Boda Boda owners speak out
Sirage Tavuma a bodaboda owner a member of (UKIDI), in Kibuku district says “the motorcycle is my liverlyhood, before I did not have a house, for years I managed to save, I bought building materials and build a three roomed house, I sustain my family for necessities, I also able to pay school fees for my children. The challenge is that it requires constant servicing with changing the oil engine every monthly, also the spare parts are expensive, Erisama Kasibini the Chairman of UKIDI said: “ Our members including women bought 66 motorcycles, in 2015, before most of them were un employed. Apparently they earn a leaving and domestic Violence has reduced in homes, Ms Ana Nyabongo, a member of UKIDI said: “ I don’t wait for my husband to provide money ,I get money from the proceedings of the bodaboda works,” Denis Buttele ,a nursing officer in the Intensive Care Unit Mulago referral hospital says, :”The motor cycle eases my transport to and from my work place. I was the first to attend to COVID-19 patients, the motor cycle eased my transport by then, it transports my children to and from school. The challenge is it requires constant servicing and spare parts are expensive.
Mary Aleto, Senior Nursing officer Mulago hospital said she does not regret owning that boda boda. It operates transport business in Kalaki , Kabaramaido district, and supplements her parents with daily income of at least sh20,000 , which also pays the salary of the rider among others.
Joseph Sseguya, boda boda rider in Jinja, said:: “Boda boda financing has helped me to grow and expand my businesses further because it is the bikes I acquired on loan that help to ease transportation of my eggs to the different points of sale. I have been able to open up multiple shops through the loans and I even employ people in my businesses.”
Growth and regulation background
The boda boda business, which initially started in the Eastern region mainly in Busia District for cross-border transportation including smuggling, became popular in Kampala after President Museveni hitched a ride on one for a trip to Kololo ceremonial grounds for nomination as a 2001 Presidential candidate.
In later years, boda bodas grew into a powerful political constituency, with the president himself regularly intervening, even at the expense of regulation as traffick jams grew especially in cities and districts
Byakatonda Procures New Double Pickups For Trade Unions
I bought two brand new double cabin pickups to support the Trade Unions under the two centers of National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) and Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) to enable them in lobbying and fighting for workers’ rights in the country, on capacity building for labour unions, empowering leaders, mobilization in economic activities.
“The vehicles are supporting the Trade Unions in mobilizing and recruitment union members workers that help them join trade unions. The transport has helped unions to train and recruit members with view to building a progressive membership base for continuity,” he said.
In bid to implement his manifesto within the first 100 days, top on his agenda was to procure two brand new pickups. “I’m a man of action and I embarked on implementing my manifesto to deliver services to the voter rather than concentrating in politics,” he said. The funding for purchase of my personal cars was used as part payment for the two pickups
Usher Wilson Owere, the Chairman General of NOTU, while the late Christopher Kahirita – the former Chairman-General of the Central Organization of Free Trade Unions of Uganda (COFTU) witnessed most of these programs.
Mr Owere said the vehicles have helped in the welfare of workers and improved their productivity in line of duty,”
Byakatonda said the two vehicles remain property of the Trade Unions, and his role is to service, repair them and pay the drivers’ salaries among others.
According to Byakatonda Trade Unions have several responsibilities to members including Collective Bargaining for better wages, conditions of employment , nurturing the workers, employers relationships, facilitating collective bargaining, proving assistance during workers and employers grievances improving the working standards root for industrial harmony and increased productivity.,
Hon. Byakatonda said time has come for leaders to stop the dependency syndrome on Labour Unions by building capacities of unions geared towards self-sustainability and relevancy in serving their members.
“Iam building a bigger network of trade union leaders through whom cooperative societies SACCOs for workers have been established and encouraged,” he said ■
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