Updated
Boda-bodas, Uganda’s motorcycle taxis, are the quickest way through Kampala’s traffic and often the only transport in villages, but they are also involved in a large share of the country’s road accidents.
If you use one, book through an app such as SafeBoda, Uber or Bolt where possible, always wear a helmet, agree the fare first if you hail one on the street, keep rides short and in daylight, and never ride with luggage you cannot hold safely. On a gorilla safari you will mostly travel by safari vehicle, so boda-bodas are best kept for short hops in towns.
What a boda-boda is
The name is usually traced to the “border to border” bicycle taxis that once carried people across the no-man’s land at the Kenya–Uganda border at Busia. Today, motorcycles have replaced bicycles, and boda-bodas are everywhere: waiting at stages on street corners in Kampala and Entebbe, outside markets, at trading centres along the highways, and in the villages around Bwindi. Riders usually carry one passenger, though you will often see far more on one bike. For many young Ugandans, riding a boda is a main source of income.
The safety question
Uganda’s roads are dangerous, and motorcycle riders and passengers make up a large share of those injured and killed. Riders often weave through traffic at speed, helmets are not always worn despite the law requiring them, and many bikes and riders are unlicensed. Travel insurance may not cover injuries on a motorcycle taxi, so check your policy. For long journeys, at night, in heavy rain or on busy highways, a car is a much safer choice.
How to ride more safely
In Kampala, app-based services such as SafeBoda, Uber and Bolt offer boda rides with a fixed fare, a rider you can identify and, usually, a helmet for the passenger. If you hail a boda on the street, choose a calm, sober rider, ask for a helmet, agree the price before you get on and ask the rider to go slowly.
Sit astride, hold the grab rail or the rider’s waist, keep your feet on the pegs and away from the hot exhaust, and wear long trousers and closed shoes. Keep bags in front of you or on your back, and hold your phone securely, as snatch thefts from passengers happen.
Fares
Short trips in town usually cost a few thousand Ugandan shillings, and longer rides more, roughly in proportion to distance and the state of the road. Prices rise at night, in rain and for visitors who do not know the going rate, so ask your hotel or guide what a fair fare is, or compare with the price shown in a ride-hailing app. Pay in cash with small notes.
Around Bwindi and the parks
Near Bwindi, boda-bodas link villages, trading centres and lodges, and some budget travellers use them for the last stretch from Butogota, Kabale or Kisoro. These roads are steep, rough and muddy after rain, so a boda with luggage is uncomfortable and risky; a lodge transfer or special hire car is better. Boda-bodas are not allowed to carry visitors on game drives inside national parks. See our guide to the bus to Bwindi for budget routes.
Alternatives
For door-to-door trips in Kampala and Entebbe, a ride-hailing car or a special hire taxi is safer and still affordable; see our guide to special hire taxis. Shared minibus taxis are cheap but crowded; read about the matatu system. Our Kampala traffic guide explains when roads are quietest.
Frequently asked questions
They carry real risk. Use app-based services, wear a helmet, ride short distances in daylight and avoid them at night or on highways.
Short trips usually cost a few thousand shillings. Agree the fare first or use an app with a fixed price.
Yes, the law requires helmets for rider and passenger, though not every rider carries one. Always ask.
Only for short local trips. For the rough roads to the park with luggage, a car is safer.
