Opportunities often favor those who are ready, and on February 17, 2025, all musically talented boda boda operators will have the chance to take a significant step forward in their music careers.
This exciting prospect comes with the introduction of a campaign called “Another Life,” which offers a wealth of rewards, including cash prizes totaling shs250 million, professional production for songs from semi-finalists, sponsorships for regional champions, and raffle draws featuring brand new motorcycles and accessories for voters who participate.
This initiative is designed to uncover and nurture the hidden talents of boda boda riders and is open to those registered with the Union App.
It is backed by the United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union (UBBRCU) in collaboration with Jambo Riders Uganda Limited and Spirit of Africa.
During the campaign launch, at the union’s home, producer Washington emphasized that this is the perfect opportunity for boda boda riders to reveal their untapped talents.
UBBRCU chairman Frank Mawejje highlighted that while the boda boda industry has been a vital part of urban mobility in Uganda, serving millions every day, its full potential has yet to be realized.
“Today we are proud to announce the official launch of the Union App and “Another Life” Campaign, a revolutionary step towards transforming the lives of boda boda riders and passengers across Uganda,” he added.
“For the first time in Uganda, we are introducing a national wide ride-hailing app-the Union App, designed not just to move people, but to inspire a new way of life,” he added.
He clarified that the Union App, in contrast to other apps available in the market, is not confined to Kampala; it reaches every corner of the country, providing Ugandans with “Another Life” in their daily experiences.
“We believe a boda-boda rider is more than just a rider. They are entrepreneurs, artists, leaders, and visionaries. Through the Union App, we aim to unlock opportunities beyond the ride, fostering growth, creativity, and financial independence,” Mawejje noted.
He called on all boda-boda riders across the nation to sign up for the app and embark on this transformative journey together.
He emphasized that passengers, too, can download the app to discover a new lifestyle brimming with opportunities, safety, and convenience.
Boda-boda operators who wish to take part are invited to check out www.bodabodafestival.com to enter the competition.
“They can access the website, download the track titled ‘Another Life,’ and create their own song in their preferred language, which they can then submit via the site,” he explained.
Baker Kasawuli, the General Manager of the union, announced that the boda-boda songwriting competition is now open to all Union boda-boda riders and passengers across the nation.
He stressed that this is a fantastic chance for them to display their musical and storytelling talents.
He further elaborated that the initiative will lead up to the annual boda-boda festival, which is set to take place in July 2025.
Union App for safety
The Union App not only boosts efficiency for travelers but also prioritizes the safety of both riders and passengers.
It targets all boda-boda operators nationwide, linked to designated stages, with the goal of curbing criminal activities.
“To achieve this, we need to involve the right people in the business. Many have heard about the thefts and assaults affecting both passengers and riders. Our aim with this initiative is to put a stop to these problems,” he emphasized.
The national ‘Union App’ offers passengers reassurance by allowing them to verify the identities of boda-boda operators during their rides, ensuring they can be easily tracked.
Barnabas Rwakatale, an IT expert and one of the system’s developers, mentioned that the platform will include comprehensive details about all riders.
“They have where they feel in their personal details. They register and we get al their information where they operate (stages). A rider gets an identification from the system and any passenger who uses the rider, the system is notified. All the locations, we have a tracking where we monitor them. When passenger reach their destination, center is notified. We rate the rider and the passenger also rate the rider,” he explained.
During the system’s launch at the union offices in Kansaga, a suburb of Kampala, on February 6, 2025, he emphasized the robust security features of the system, which are designed to provide complete support for passengers throughout their journey from point A to point B.
“We have collected the IDs and biometric data of all our riders, verified by their stage chairmen or leaders. As this is a national app, any questions or complaints can be directed to our toll-free call center, accessible for those who download the app from the Play Store,” he stated.
Rwakatale underscored the necessity of unifying the boda boda sector to improve their operational standards.
Meanwhile, Ben Mugumbya, the founder of Swangz Avenue, shared that they are on the lookout for a potential superstar.
“It is not solely about financial gain; if we identify a potential superstar, we are prepared to sign them,” he stated.
