SafeBoda is a company in Kampala that offers a new business model for Uganda’s motorbike taxi industry. Uganda’s road deaths are about twice the average of its African peers that results in losses of 2.9% of its GDP (WHO, 2013). SafeBoda is trying to solve this problem by prioritizing safety for both its drivers and passengers. In this episode, I chat with two of the three co-founders of SafeBoda; Maxime Dieudonne and Alastair Sussock. We discuss the impact of SafeBoda in Kampala thus far, challenges in the current Ugandan transport service, as well as how SafeBoda tries to differentiate itself from the current motorbike taxis.
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SafeBoda
The Problem: Boda-boda accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in Uganda. Less than 1% of boda boda passengers wear a helmet, as result boda boda accidents make up around 40% of all trauma cases at the city hospitals. With 80,000 boda boda serving as the main form of transport in Kampala, there is estimated to be at least 800,000 unsafe trips taken daily.
The Solution: SafeBoda provides quality bright orange quality helmets for the passenger and driver – which reduces risks of death by 40% and risk of severe injury by 70%. SafeBoda drivers also receive training in customer service, safety, rules of the road, first-aid in partnership with the Ugandan Red Cross, and boda boda maintenance.
Recommended Book
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard. In his long-awaited memoir, Yvon Chouinard-legendary climber, businessman, environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia, Inc.-shares the persistence and courage that have gone into being head of one of the most respected and environmentally responsible companies on earth. From his youth as the son of a French Canadian blacksmith to the thrilling, ambitious climbing expeditions that inspired his innovative designs for the sport’s equipment, Let My People Go Surfing is the story of a man who brought doing good and having grand adventures into the heart of his business life-a book that will deeply affect entrepreneurs and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
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