Women Breaking Barriers

Without a mass transit system in Uganda’s capital city, motorbike (boda boda) riders like Majo can be seen navigating traffic jams and helping people access remote places that 14-seater taxis do not reach.

Mary Majo Babirye, who has always wanted to be a biker, is a teacher by profession and a boda boda rider by choice. She was forced to join the boda boda business after losing her teaching job during the Covid lockdown in 2020. Majo says she does not regret her decision because "On a daily basis, I am assured of 10,000 Uganda shillings, an equivalent of about 3 US Dollars." Whilst she only rides for about 4 hours a day, Majo is happy with the flexibility of her work that allows her to serve the public and lead fellow female riders while still taking care of her family. Majo applauds fellow women riders for supporting her transition into the business. "Fellow women riders would get me customers because I was shy to call them."

Majo describes the boda boda business and glaringly male dominated transport sector as changing and better organized with a boda boda leadership structure in which she represents women riders in Kampala City.

Even though she is passionate and business is good, Majo and the other women riders’ journey is riddled with safety concerns, hefty loan repayments to bike companies, and sadly, discrimination and rejection especially from female passengers.  "Male passengers are good but female passengers reject us. These ladies fear taking female riders because they project their fears on us." Majo attributes this rejection to strongly entrenched archaic customary norms where women sitting on motorbikes as riders are frowned upon and not considered feminine.

Despite the obstacles, Majo urges other women to get over the fear of working in male-dominated fields like transport because they too can succeed if they change their mindset and join the business. “People are admiring those of us who have joined. It is prestigious to be a rider. They should join us, and we make money.” She appreciates the men who embraced women in the industry but reminds those who "still want us to remain in the kitchen that the world has changed."

In future, Majo hopes that the planning and decision-making processes in transport will be more inclusive and consultative of women. She calls out the tokenism involvement of women after decisions have been made. Majo calls on companies to subsidise bike prices for women to encourage them to join the business, but also because women ride for fewer hours, given their safety concerns and their caretaking roles.

Majo considers her personal growth, resilience and networks built with progressive stakeholders like the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, to advocate for an inclusive and gender-just transport system as the highlight of her career.  "Right now, doors have opened up for women everywhere; we have come out of captivity. We can talk! I am here talking about women in transport, who am I?"

Majo is proof that a just city is one whose public transport system is responsive to women’s needs and is accommodative, and inclusive for women as workers.

Happy International Women’s Day!