Boda Riders Become Bus Touts.
By Geofrey Ndhogezi
The bus company Y.Y. Coaches, best known for servicing routes to Eastern Uganda, has recently embarked on engaging boda riders to beat the competition — by cutting out touts. Y.Y. Coaches, which have previously been operating from the usually congested Namayiba bus terminal, have moved to an independent bus terminal located on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, Kampala.
On Thursday — September 30, Y.Y. Coaches management mobilized boda riders at Usafi boda stage to attend a meeting at the new location. The purpose of the half hour meeting was to introduce boda riders to the proposed work relationship which, according to the Y.Y. manager Mr. Kasirye Musa, will last for about two months. The boda riders who attended were each given UGX 4,000 compensation for their time.
In the new strategy, Y.Y. Coaches is attempting to use boda riders as both passenger deliverers and promoters to get passengers. The bus company will pay UGX 5,000 to every boda rider who takes a passenger to their new terminal, and if a boda rider takes 10 passengers to the bus terminal he then wins a rear tyre on top of the money.
“In addition to that, we have vans for picking passengers who have heavy luggages which can’t fit on a motorcycle. We shall pick those passengers from their locations to the bus terminal free of charge, and also pay the boda rider who connects them to us,” the manager promised. The boda riders will also get a receipt for every passenger so whoever gets ten receipts, presents them to the management to obtain the motorcycle tyre.
This opportunity is open to all boda riders in Kampala and it has already captured their attention. Vicent, a member of Usafi boda stage, received his UGX 5,000 when he took a passenger and he vowed to continue doing it. “I want to take at least three passengers to Y.Y. Coaches everyday!” he said.
While this strategy is a welcome opportunity for boda riders who are still struggling from Covid-related restrictions, it cuts out the Namayiba bus park touts who previously played this role. Bus park touts usually earn a non-specific amount of money whenever they take a passenger to the booking-office. This is made possible by bargaining and agreeing with the passenger on an amount higher than the official fare. If the passenger pays exactly the official fare, the office may give some small money to the tout. Recent visitors to the Namayiba Bus Park reported that touts had told them Y.Y. Coaches had folded — it’s unclear the nature of Y.Y.’s departure from Namayiba, but the potential loss of touts income is likely to cause some bitterness.
Using boda riders role as last-mile transporters and transportation insiders to deliver passengers seems like a sharp move, but will be painful to the touts who will lose employment if other companies adopt the Y.Y. model. To the passengers, it may also be a welcome relief from touts harassment at the bus park. Ultimately, Y.Y. Coaches decision to shift from touts to boda riders raises the question if bus companies can work without touts — and whether boda riders can gain long-term from this new arrangement.
Geofrey Ndhogezi
Secretary, Usafi Boda Stage
