President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday today celebrated his 81st birthday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala City.
The birthday celebrations were held concurrently with the first-ever Boda Union Festival and Expo.
During his address, the President who was in the company of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, thanked boda boda riders for celebrating his birthday with him.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to protect boda boda riders from exploitative boda loans and moneylenders.
“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,” he said, adding that high interest rates have made moneylenders “enemies of progress” across sectors, including agriculture.
He explained that this is why the government introduced the Parish Development Model (PDM), which offers low-interest financing.
“If we give you Shs1 million, you pay back just Shs1,125,000 after two years. We have applied the same arrangement for the ghetto and now for the Boda Bodas,” he said.
The President also announced support to the industry and revealed that the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye will certify all Boda Boda SACCOs to ensure accountability and prevent selfish individuals from misusing funds.
Maama Janet congratulated the President for reaching his 81st birthday.
She also urged Ugandans to embrace unity as the bedrock of 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.
The First Lady also noted that while unity is key, Ugandans must also “learn to serve what we produce,” so as to build their own banks, wealth, and future.
“God has used the President to lay a firm foundation for the Boda Bodas, the taxis, and for families across Uganda. It is now upon us to build on that foundation and create a nation that is truly unstoppable,” Maama Janet added.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among also congratulated the President on his 81st birthday and praised him for making Uganda “the country everyone wants to live in.”
She also thanked him for creating a conducive environment that has enabled the boda boda industry to flourish.
On their part, boda boda leaders hailed the President for his support towards the industry.
Mr. Frank Mawejje, Chairperson of the United Riders Cooperative Union, revealed that the recent patriotism training at Kaweweta gave riders the knowledge to run their unions more professionally.
He said unlike in the past when SACCOs would collapse, they now employ accountants and lawyers to ensure proper management.
Mr. Mawejje however, urged the government to deal with moneylenders who still confiscate the riders’ National IDs despite a Presidential directive banning the practice.
Union Business Products Advisor, Mr. Fred Ssenoga called for unity between the taxi and boda boda sectors, saying their combined numbers in Kampala could lobby for life-transforming projects.
He announced plans to establish “Union Villages” to help members own homes instead of spending their entire lives riding without a place to call their own.
Mr. Ssenoga also appealed for government review of the Shs 700,000 digital number plate registration fee, arguing it was unfair for riders to pay the same as luxury car owners.
Mr. Sekindi Rashid, Chairperson of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF) requested the President to officially launch the new taxi park in Kampala and thanked him for expanding the road network and harmonizing the previously divided taxi industry.
Events promoter Abbey Musinguzi alias Abtex also requested President Museveni to support events promoters through SACCOs, citing heavy exploitation by moneylenders.
The celebrations ended with renewed calls for unity, discipline, and innovation within Uganda’s transport and entertainment industries, with leaders pledging to build on the foundation laid by the President.
