In a groundbreaking move to address both sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) and road safety challenges in Uganda’s boda boda industry, Reach A Hand Uganda and The United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union (UBBRCU) have launched a nationwide campaign titled “Kwatamu Awo – You Only Live Once.”
The initiative brings together a wide network of partners, including stage chairpersons, boda boda riders, the Uganda Traffic Police, the Ministry of Health, and development agencies, to deliver integrated health and safety services directly to riders across the country.
Through mobile outreach, the campaign will provide:
- HIV testing and counselling
- Blood pressure checks
- Condom distribution
- Reproductive health education
- Traffic safety sensitisation
- Mental health awareness
- Training on the use of protective gear and first aid
Addressing Urgent Risks in the Sector
Eric Ofwono, Ministry of Health Commissioner for Emergency Medical Services, stressed the urgency of targeted interventions.
“Boda boda riders are often the first on accident scenes. Yet without training, they are unable to offer even basic first aid. This campaign is both timely and essential.”
He added that the ministry, in partnership with the Uganda Red Cross, is strengthening community-based emergency response systems with boda boda riders playing a central role.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report (2023), boda bodas were involved in over 4,500 road accidents, making them the leading cause of road crash fatalities in the country. Riders also face high HIV prevalence rates, limited access to SRHR services, and mental health challenges linked to job-related stress, poverty, and stigma.
Road Safety as a Shared Responsibility
Superintendent of Police Michael Kananura, from the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, warned that poor sensitisation continues to fuel risky riding behavior.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility—including passengers, who sometimes pressure riders to flout traffic rules,” he said.
UBBRCU National Chairman Mawejje Frank explained the deeper meaning behind the campaign’s title.
“Kwatamu Awo is more than a slogan—it’s a peer-driven call for survival, for caution, and for change.”
He pledged to improve access to HIV services, first aid training, and road safety awareness to reduce accidents and health vulnerabilities in the profession.
Transforming the Boda Boda Sector
Humphrey Nabimanya, CEO of Reach A Hand Uganda, emphasised the campaign’s human-centered approach.
“We are here to ensure that every boda boda rider is not just seen as a risk, but as a person deserving of access to health, knowledge, and safety. This partnership is about transformation—of individuals, communities, and systems.”
The Kwatamu Awo campaign is part of UBBRCU’s Social-Economic Transformative Development Model, which seeks to redefine the boda boda sector nationwide. With nationwide outreach planned, the campaign aims to empower riders with the tools to stay healthy, ride safely, and improve their livelihoods.
Source : The Independent
