By KT Reporter
Boda boda riders across the country are set to benefit from a new land loan scheme aimed at improving their housing and settlement conditions. The initiative is spearheaded by the United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union, which brings together boda boda operators from different parts of the country.
Union chairperson Frank Mawejje says the scheme seeks to uplift the welfare of riders and address the challenge of inadequate housing. According to Mawejje, up to 90 percent of boda boda operators still live in rented houses, many with large families, making it difficult for them to save and invest in permanent homes.
The union has acquired over 14 hectares of land in Busunju, Mityana District, which will be subdivided into 154 plots of either 50 by 50 or 50 by 25 feet. These plots will be loaned to union members under flexible payment terms. To secure a plot, a rider must make an initial deposit of 250,000 shillings. The balance will be paid in daily installments ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 shillings over one to two years, with each plot priced at no more than 3.24 million shillings.
To prevent slum-like development and congestion, the union plans to construct houses on plots where riders have completed payments. These homes, each costing approximately 30 million shillings, will be offered under a rent-to-own model with affordable daily installments.
Bernard Tugume, Chairman of Katosi Boda Boda Stage, welcomed the project, noting that many riders retire without owning homes due to the hand-to-mouth nature of their work. He urged fellow riders to embrace the union’s programs for their long-term development.
Umar Isabirye Babalanda, the Chairman of Boda Boda in Makindye Division, highlighted the financial burden many riders face, including rent, school fees, and the rising cost of living. He said these challenges inspired the formation of the national union to help improve their livelihoods.
To benefit from the scheme, a rider must be a registered union member and operate through the union’s digital platform, known as the Online Boda Boda System. The land loan program is open to all boda boda riders countrywide under the union’s framework. In addition to addressing housing, the union is also working to enhance safety for riders and passengers while eliminating illegal operators known as Kabyanze—riders without official stages—who are often associated with crime in the sector-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
