![]() The quickest way to get around Kampala is on a "boda boda," or motorcycle taxi. They can cut through the jam and take you door to door to door which is really convenient. You can get a boda at a "stage," which is essentially any street corner, sidewalk outside a popular bar / restaurant, etc. One of my boda drivers told me that they actually register their stage with the police / government, which surprised me. While you may hear horror stories about boda accidents / robberies, I haven't had any issues yet (knock on wood). Here are some tips I got about riding:
![]() Since it's not safe to walk around at night, I have a few bodas that know where I live and will come right to my gate to get me. I can see them approach from my balcony, and run down once they're here. I usually spend 3k-6k ($1-$2 USD) on bodas. It's kind of a gamble. Sometimes I negotiate before I get on (if I take one from a stage), but I find that if I hand them a sum I think is fair upon arrival, usually that works out. Every once in awhile, drivers will be fussy because they know they can rip off expats, but it's not work arguing over 30 cents here and there. The cheapest mode of transportation are "matatus" which are Toyota vans - you can see a bunch in the left of the videos below. I haven't taken these yet because I have no idea how to figure out where they go, but I think you pay about 500 shillings (~15 cents). There's a driver and a "conductor" who will lean out the window and yell at people / try to find passengers. You tell the conductor when you want to get off (say "parking"), and they'll pull over. While safer from a physical standpoint (during the day), petty theft can be common and the vans aren't always in good shape some sometimes they can break down. Here are some video clips shot from a car to give you a sense of traffic in Kampala!
Tiffany
1/15/2016 10:57:14 pm
Please be careful and only ride with the drivers whom you know. Mom
Shannon
1/23/2016 11:04:52 pm
Are you learning how to drive a boda too? Comments are closed.
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AuthorI'm eager to learn about the world around me and find that travel (and food) is one of my favorite ways in which to do so. Archives
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