President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni marked his 81st birthday in grand style at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, where his celebrations coincided with the first-ever Boda Union Festival and Expo.
Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, the President thanked boda boda riders for celebrating the milestone with him.
He used the occasion to reaffirm his government’s commitment to protecting boda boda riders from exploitative moneylenders and unfair loan practices.
“My agreement with the Boda Bodas is that it is criminal for someone to give you a rabbit and then demand a cow in return. Moneylenders give you Shs5 million and expect Shs15 million back. That is robbery,” President Museveni said, describing high-interest lenders as “enemies of progress” across sectors, including agriculture.
He emphasised that this was the reason behind introducing the Parish Development Model (PDM), which provides low-interest loans to Ugandans. “If we give you Shs1 million, you pay back only Shs1,125,000 after two years. The same arrangement has now been extended to the ghetto and to Boda Bodas,” he explained.
The President also pledged to support the boda boda industry, announcing that the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, would certify all Boda Boda SACCOs to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of funds.
Calls for Unity and Economic Empowerment
First Lady Maama Janet Museveni congratulated the President on his birthday and called on Ugandans to embrace unity as the key to transformation.
“Africa was blessed with abundant resources, but we have remained poor because we fight among ourselves. Now, by God’s grace, Uganda has been given the wisdom to form a union — to bring us together. When we unite, we will be unstoppable,” she said.
She further urged Ugandans to consume locally produced goods to strengthen the economy. “God has used the President to lay a firm foundation for Boda Bodas, taxis, and families across Uganda. It is now upon us to build on that foundation and create a truly unstoppable nation,” Maama Janet added.
Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, also extended birthday wishes to the President, praising him for creating a conducive environment for the boda boda industry to thrive.
Boda Boda Leaders Voice Concerns and Proposals
Boda boda leaders thanked the President for his support. United Riders Cooperative Union Chairperson, Mr. Frank Mawejje, highlighted the impact of patriotism training at Kaweweta, noting that it has improved union professionalism with the hiring of accountants and lawyers to strengthen SACCO management.
However, he urged the government to address ongoing harassment by moneylenders who continue to confiscate National IDs despite a Presidential ban on the practice.
Union Business Products Advisor, Mr. Fred Ssenoga, called for unity between boda boda and taxi operators to collectively lobby for transformative projects. He unveiled plans to create “Union Villages” where members can own homes instead of renting for a lifetime without property.
He also appealed for a review of the Shs700,000 digital number plate fee, arguing that it is unfair to charge boda boda riders the same amount as luxury car owners.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sekindi Rashid, Chairperson of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF), requested the President to officially launch the new taxi park in Kampala and applauded the government’s efforts in expanding road infrastructure and harmonising the taxi industry.
Events promoter Abbey Musinguzi, commonly known as Abtex, asked the President to support event promoters through SACCOs to protect them from predatory moneylenders.
The celebrations ended with leaders pledging to promote unity, discipline, and innovation across Uganda’s transport and entertainment sectors, vowing to build on the foundation laid by President Museveni.
