The pain of being a Boda-Boda rider

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN: Some Boda-Boda operators in the South Sudan capital accuse the Boda-Boda Association in Juba of colluding with police to arrest the motorbike drivers and force them to obtain membership ID cards. 

The head of the Association says motorbike drivers must pay a monthly subscription fee but Boda-Boda drivers complain they get very little in return for their membership. 

Many Boda-Boda riders say they don’t like being forced to pay a membership fee for identification cards or being forced to buy and wear helmets which cost 3,000 SSP and must be purchased through the Boda-Boda Association.

They are also required by law to wear florescent jackets and carry logbooks with them at all times.

Juba boda-boda driver Nelson Loro Laku says he sees little benefit in being a member of the association. He says it would be better if the association supported boda boda drivers in their time of need.

“Even if your motorcycle is stolen, they don’t defend you, if one has caused an accident and you go to the association for help, they don’t [help] yet every month they take 500 South Sudanese Pounds.” Laku grumbles.

Another Boda-Boda rider who prefers to be identified only as “Modi” for security reasons, accuses the association of taking their money and giving drivers practically nothing in return.

“My problem is that the Boda-Boda association (leaders) are eating our money for nothing,” Modi protests.

“If my motorcycle is stolen, they can’t manage to pay us, even when we cause accident, they can’t even treat the patients. We also want the association to help us.” Modi added.

Abraham Jok, chairperson of the South Sudan Boda-Boda Association acknowledges that the association has no power to regulate the operations of Boda-Boda cyclists in the country, nor are there any policies on paper to regulate the Boda-Boda business in South Sudan.

“A policy is going to be developed and we are going to give it to the government for approval. We are going to introduce a motorcycle riding school,” Jok says adding, “every Boda-Boda rider or every person who rides a motorcycle whether for commercial or for private use has to be tested, certified and given a license that proves he’s a competent road user.”

But Jok insists it is mandatory for commercial motorbike riders to pay monthly subscriptions or tax.

“This is not a community association or a student association. This is a business association; it has regulations that if you don’t have a number plate, you don’t go to the road.”

He says the association must impose that law since the Boda-Bodas are making money.

“They are collecting money from the public. So, if they are making money from the public how come they cannot be told to do ABCD?” Jok demanded.

With the dues it collects, the association provides ID cards to drivers, which intern helps police to differentiate them from criminals who sometimes pose as Boda-boda drivers.  The ID card costs 2,700 SSP and must be renewed each year.

Some Boda-Boda drivers claim the association is colluding with police and the Juba City Council to arrest them for not subscribing to the association.

But Major General Daniel Justin, spokesperson for the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), says officers work with the Boda-Boda association to ensure that motorbike operators follow the law.

“they have to put their house in order by making sure that they adhere to the law and then as a result nobody will ask them on the road.”

“The law is very clear about the licensing of the Boda-Boda and over speeding and all these. We are just regulating the road.” Justin added.

Boda-Boda operators also accuse members of the Juba City Council of working with police to force them to buy branded helmets from a specific company. Peter Loro Paulino, chairperson of the Juba City Council Assembly staunchly denies the accusation.

“The helmet is helpful for saving lives but to be specific for one company I don’t know why. Issues like this are not under the City Council, City Council will always give regulations and the rules that are for the safety of the people.” Paulino said.

“We need the riders of the motorbikes to follow the procedures like putting on masks, carrying a helmet and all these things.”

The boda boda association says it registered 5100 boda boda drivers in 2020. Thousands of other motorbike taxis operating in Juba do not register with the association.

Some private motorcycle owners in Juba accuse the police and security agents connected to the boda boda association of arresting them and charging them fees, a practice they say must stop.

Emmanuel Laku is one of the Juba residents who was harassed despite repeatedly saying he was not doing Boda-Boda business. He says police arrested him and and detained his motorbike too.

“I asked them why they arrested my motorbike and what’s the logic behind it. They told me that they are issuing some IDs and that kind of stuff to Boda-Boda guys and I told them I’m not a Boda-Boda person. You can see even my motorbike is a Mahindra, it’s not a Boda-Boda people use often…not everybody who has a Badjaj does Boda-Boda.”