Lira.
In Lira City last week, Dokolo Post met Margaret Akello, who for the last two years has been the only female bodaboda operating in the city of Lira. When Akello cruises along the busy Obote Avenue in Lira City people passing by will always stop and stare. She stands out on her red TVS motorcycle wearing army coloured trousers, and she is used to hearing excited men and kids wave and call out “Boda Maggie!
Up to now in Uganda work as a bodaboda rider has always been considered a job for only men. But the times are changing and we may start to see more and more women on the roads and leaving the burden of domestic duties behind.
Her journey to the business
Before venturing into this business, Akello was working as a tailor at Lira Main Market. But due to the outbreak of CoronaVirus, she became unemployed and had to think of a new business to make ends meet. When a family is unable to provide food it is a clear point that they are in a desperate condition. This was the case withAkello, who made the decision to be a bodaboda driver after three nights without food. So, when they say brains work better under tough times, indeed this has been testified by Akello. But starting into such a business was not easy and it took great courage. When she first started the job, she faced resistance from many of her friends and family members who never wanted her to be in the venture. She said some of her darkest times was when people wrongfully labeled her a prostitute, but Akello never let misunderstandings and the hurtfulopinions of people hold her back from undertaking her goal to ride a bike.
Balancing Family and Work
At the beginning of her work it was not easy for Akello to balance it with family priorities, not until she programmed herself to work for 12 hours in a day from 6am to 6pm.The famous city bodaboda wakes up by 5 am to help her children prepare for school and to complete some domestic work before heading for her daily hustle. She is constantly juggling work and home duties, and even during lunch time she takes a break to go and check her family members.
Achievements
The proud bodaboda woman is currently living a happy life with the money she gets every day from her clients, as compared to her early times where she could stay for days without touching money and eating food.Akello has now gained fame and is known throughout Lira City.She has become so popular that every day she serves an overwhelming amount of passengers. If people were not used to her driving skills in the beginning, she finds that people now find more safety in using her services.Besides gaining fame, she has now become the source of inspiration to many young women in northern Uganda, and several people have begun contacting her for consultation.She has also revealed that because of her boda job she is able to take care of her siblings and pay for their school fees for which a huge achievement and relief for her family.Before Akello joined the bodaboda business she told us that she was unhappy and would lie to keep up with her works demand.She is now feeling proud about herself, in fact the job has madeAkello’s family members and friends build trust in her because she has become a loyal and supportive member of the community.
Dreams
She has a plan of buying a land in future, she also wants to buy several motor bikes and inspire young women to venture into the business.She said in the near future she wants to upgrade from driving bodaboda, to driving a car or truck so she can improve on her skills and income, as well as mobilize her fellow women to embrace the business.
Challenges
Several people might be asking themselves why unemployed female youth do not embrace boda boda riding in a larger number. Akello told us that the most challenging issue is the perception some people still have on women about certain jobs.She said even today some women do not believe that she is a bodaboda driver. Because of this, many people would mistake her as a normal person riding with many passengers. She even finds that some men fear her dropping them at their homes because the spouse might confront her as someone trying to ruin the marriage. There has been an increasing amount of motorcycle theft in Lira city, and last year Akello was also a victim when her motor cycle was stolen from her home.She is now hiring, but continues to appeal for resources to purchase a new motorcycle. Boda theft continues to cause insecurity in Ugandan cities, with some riders murdered. This means Akello has to take strong precautions for her safety just as any boda driver would.
Akello’s message to the community
Akello advises her fellow women to not shy away from some jobs,but to embrace work regardless of the conditions.