Bodaboda laws out soon, cyclists protest

By Vision Reporter

As the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) finalises new regulations to govern bodaboda operations, the cyclists’ association is vowing to reject the changes if not consulted or involved before implementation starts next week.

The regulations are aimed at improving urban transport, decongesting the city and improving safety.The BodaBoda 2010 Association is demanding that the authority halts all plans untill they, as principal stakeholders, are consulted.

“Regulating bodaboda business is not bad. All we want is to be consulted at all stages,” the association’s chairman, Antanas Kafeero, said. “We are also against the proposed monthly fee of sh20,000. At most, it should be sh10,000.”

A survey by New Vision indicates that most cyclists operating in the city earn between sh50,000 and sh100,000 per day.

New Vision has seen a copy of the proposed rules, which involve mandatory registration, training, use of official jackets and helmets, as well as a monthly fee of sh20,000.

The document says all cyclists must register in the divisions where they operate, buy a prescribed reflector jacket and a helmet, undergo training in first aid and update their permits, before they can get identification numbers.

“Each reflector jacket and helmet shall have a distinct colour of the division, with the rider’s identification number visible and easily read,” the document reads. It adds: “The cost of a reflector jacket shall be borne by the bodaboda owner/rider, but shall be the property of the authority.”

Kafeero welcomes the idea of wearing uniform, but wants each cyclist to be given many sets of uniform at KCCA’s cost.

The proposal requires cyclists to have two helmets, for the rider and the passenger. No cyclist will be allowed to carry more than one passenger.

Last week, KCCA spokesperson Peter Kaujju said after registering cyclists, they would give them uniform for easy identification. KCCA intends to raise sh6b from an estimated 250,000 cyclists operating in the city.

The proposed regulation bars cyclists from riding or parking on pavements and non-designated areas. All cyclists are expected to stop whenever they are asked to by the relevant authorities. And if a cyclist fails to observe traffic laws, he will be penalised in accordance with the National Traffic Road and Safety Act.