Minister of Works and Transport, Monica Azuba Ntege, is set to preside over the bi-annual festivity organized by one of the ride-hailing App services, SafeBoda, at Lugogo Cricket Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The biannual event is expected to bring together over 8,000 company cyclists across the country and their families. Several musicians and artistes are expected to perform.
According to Safe Boda Communications Manager, Damalie Wasukira, the get together is mainly intended to foster unity as well as awarding the best performing SafeBoda riders.
“We are to hold a raffle on the best performing riders and two riders who will emerge victorious will today be given two motorcycles as a way of motivating them and others to maintain our standards,” Wasukira told SoftPower News.
Wasukira added that: ” This is a great day for our members and their families and we will use it to interact and network.”
She says the company is dedicated to creating entrepreneurial opportunities, curve out safe and professional standards in the transportation industry and also encourage a network of riders who are responsible, foresighted, entrepreneurial and well clued on customer care.
The company makes more than 15,000 trips every day and today’s event is likely to disrupt boda boda transport in the city since riders will be attending the fete.
In a tweet on Sunday, Safe Boda warned of the limited availability throughout the day.
“Dear customers, please be informed that there will be limited availability of Safebodas today due to the fact that we shall having our Bi-Annual SafeBoda party for our SafeBodas and their families,” Safe Boda tweeted.
Since its launch in 2014, the transportation company numbers have constantly grown to approximately 10,000 currently as well as extending to the neighbouring Kenya.
SafeBoda is credited for increased safety on the roads, improved the livelihoods of many boda boda riders through aspects of microcredit and micro insurance and also made transport around the city easier, comfortable and more reliable.
Their riders go through a rigourous vetting and training process before they are allowed into the now vast network of riders across the city.
They are equipped with skills and expertise for riders and taken through the paces with training regarding road safety (in partnership Uganda Police.
The riders are then uniquely identified with numbers on their helmets and reflector jackets so that passengers can easily identify them.
The Riders carry extra helmets for their passengers and they also carry hairnets to ensure that the passengers do not need to worry hygiene issues.