By Rogers Wanambwa 

KIU, Main Campus - Since the lockdown started, most urban dwellers have been staying home for close to two months now. This means that many people cannot afford to readily access amenities and utilities. 

Many entrepreneurial Boda-Boda riders saw this as an opportunity and they started offering their neighbours to go buy for them whatever they need as long as they are willing to pay a small transport fare.

This practice was not entirely new as many Boda-Boda riders had already started doing this even before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. 

They have mastered the science of delivery. A simple phone call and everything you need can be delivered to your doorstep. 

My neighbour is a Boda-Boda rider and he has been delivering for 20 homesteads around. This has created a new dynamic within the community. People now feel there's no need to go back to how things were before as this change has eased their lives. 

Better still, most transactions are carried out on phone through mobile money and there's no need to touch or exchange currency notes and coins. Which is good since the Ministry of Health advised to limit it as much as possible.  

Also, many Ugandans do not know how to use apps like Jumia, Kikuu, Simba, among others whereby you have to order for things online and neither do they even own smart gadgets like smartphones which one has to have to download the app. 

The usual Boda-Boda guy is the go-to person here as all you need is their number and you have access to them. Each delivery is charged between UGX1,500-UGX5,000 depending on how far they have to go and how much they're to carry back. 

This is how many Boda-Boda riders are surviving during this lockdown and in turn easing many lives of Uganda's urban dwellers. 

Picture credit: Internet Photo