Cabinet demarcates boda boda free zones in Kampala

Kampala, Uganda | URN | As boda bodas resume operations today July 27, government has demarcated operation stages and boda boda free zones where they are not allowed to operate. 

According to the minister for KCCA and Metropolitan Affairs, Betty Amongi, cabinet approved 579 boda boda stages in Kampala spread through the five divisions of Kampala. The Central division has 32 stages, Kawempe 89 stages, Makindye 136 stages, Nakawa 146 stages while Rubaga division has 179 stages.

Each gazetted stage has a unique reference code, for instance, Bukesa stage 1001, Bukesa stage 1002 and Industrial Area 1007 among others and this will be the stage name. 

According to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) all boda boda operators must be registered at any of the gazetted stages and this shall be their address to enable contact tracing in case of any COVID-19 infection. No boda boda is allowed to operate outside the gazetted stages.

Boda boda operators are required to register at any gazetted stage of their choice, while all Boda boda App companies like Safe Boda, Bolt and Uber and associations like Century Boda, shall share with KCCA the register of all their members after registering every member to a gazetted stage.

All boda bodas riders who do not operate or belong to the App companies or associations shall register with KCCA through their stage leadership. Forms can be downloaded from the KCCA website or picked from ward administrators at every KCCA division and no fees payment is required in the entire process.

KCCA also says cabinet has further approved boda boda free zones where boda bodas are prohibited from entering or accessing. The free zone is based in Central division explaining why there are only 32 stages gazetted here. 

The boda boda free zone will run along the following boundaries; Wampewo Roundabout to Jinja Road to Kitgum House junction – Access Road – Mukwano Road to Clock Tower–Kafumbe Mukasa Road–Kisenyi Road–Mackay Road-Kyaggwe Road-Watoto Church-Bombo Road–Wandegeya – Hajji Musa Kasule  Road-Mulago roundabout- Kamwokya junction – Sturrock Road – Prince Charles Drive- Lugogo Bypass–Jinja Road- Wampewo Roundabout.

Only utility and delivery service motorcycles shall be allowed in the boda boda free zone area. KCCA is also procuring boda boda stage signs to mark the gazetted stages permanently and traffic signs to demarcate the boda boda free zones as approved by cabinet.

As they resume operations on Monday, boda bodas are required to abide by the standard operating procedures of having a helmet and mask, registering passengers and sanitizing passengers and the seat each time they get a passenger.

Since the suspension of public transport in March this year, boda bodas have only been allowed to carry cargo. Taxi operations resumed in June also after registration and acquisition of a route number and route chart that detailed the route a taxi can ply. Only registered taxis are allowed on the road.

FULL STATEMENT

Following the recent National address on Covid19 by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Boda Bodas are to resume carrying passengers and luggage on the 27th July, 2020. Consequently, a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all the Boda Bodas operators nationwide have been issued by Government through Ministry of Works & Transport and Ministry of Security.

Specifically for Kampala Capital City, all Boda Bodas MUST follow and comply with Cabinet Directives on the reforms to streamline and regulate the operations of motorcycles in the City and these include the following;

1.  All Boda Bodas must operate at gazetted Boda Boda stages. The list of these stages and maps can be obtained from KCCA website or Ward Administrators at every KCCA Division. Each gazetted stage has a unique reference code and this will be its name.
2.  All Boda Boda operators must be registered at any of the gazetted stages and this shall be their address to enable contact tracing in case of Covid19 infection. Boda Boda operators are free to register at any gazetted stage of their choice.
3. All Boda Boda App companies and associations shall share the register of all their members (after registering every member to a gazetted stage).
4. All Boda Bodas who do not operate or belong to the App. Companies/associations shall register with KCCA through their stage leadership. Forms can be downloaded from KCCA website or picked from Ward Administrators at every KCCA Division.
5. No Boda Boda operator shall pay any fees to anybody to register on any gazetted stage of choice. Anybody soliciting a bribe should be reported to the relevant authorities. 
6. Cabinet approved Boda Boda Free Zone where All Boda Bodas are prohibited from entering/accessing. The Boda Boda Free Zone  will run along the following boundaries; Wampewo Roundabout- Jinja Road to Kitgum House junction – Access Road – Mukwano Road to Clock Tower –Kafumbe Mukasa Road –Kisenyi Road –Mackay Road- Kyaggwe Road- Watoto Church-Bombo Road – Wandegeya – Hajji Musa Kasule  Road- Mulago roundabout- Kamwokya junction – Sturrock Road – Prince Charles Drive- Lugogo Bypass–Jinja Road- Wampewo Roundabout.

KCCA is procuring Boda Boda Stage Signs to mark the gazetted stages permanently and Traffic signs to demarcate the Boda Boda Free Zone as approved by Cabinet. All Boda Boda Operators must comply with all the directives and strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as issued by Government.

Read Also: Ugandan gov’t issues standard operating procedures for boda bodas

STAGES

Approved Boda Boda Stages