Insurers, cyclists and police team up for policy

At every turn, there is a boda boda; however, behind the ease of using these bikes is a high probability of injury and in some cases death.

In 2013 alone, there were 6,831 boda boda accidents, which killed 1,098 people and left 6,578 injured. In order to tame this worrying trend, National Insurance Corporation (NIC), the Uganda National Boda Boda Association (UNBA), Nakasero hospital and the Uganda Police have teamed up to provide boda boda life insurance policy.

Ben Mbonye, the Nakasero Hospital chairman noted at that the policy will create a self-regulating mechanism to reduce accidents and to avail top medical care to all Ugandans.

Bayo Folayan, the NIC boss noted that majority of the boda boda cyclists are youth and that by saving the lives of the youth, Uganda's future will be secured.  

"The boda boda industry has become a key player in the provision of jobs and a source of living for many youth. Being the only profession where no academic qualifications are required, many youth join spontaneously," he said.

To qualify for the cover, the cyclists will be trained and given badges. They will pay an annual premium of sh70,000 and receive emergency ambulance services in case of a crash.  

Mulago hospital spends approximately sh1.5b of their budget treating boda boda accident patients. Photo/File

Anthony Ngugi, the NIC life General Manager noted that the insurance policy will provide up to sh5m per affected individual per incident. In addition, there will be a school fees benefit for the children of a deceased rider.

The insurance cover will also cover funeral costs and provide compensation in the event of temporal or permanent disability.

Stephen Kasiima, the police head of Traffic and Road Safety, noted that the ambulance service will protect riders, passengers and pedestrians from further injury especially in cases when they are ferried while in awkward positions to hospital by motorists.

He blamed boda boda cyclists who insist on riding through the center of the road and not the extreme ends of the road as the main cause of the increased boda boda accidents.

Kananura Deus, the UNBA head noted that the policy will decrease the pressure on Mulago hospital which has opened a special ward for boda boda accident victims.

The hospital spends approximately sh1.5b (62.5%) of their budget treating boda boda patients every year.