Kampala, Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni celebrated his 81st birthday on Sunday, September 14, 2025, with a large public event at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, held alongside the first-ever Boda Union Festival and Expo.
The celebrations brought together boda boda riders, government officials, and the public to honor the President’s birthday while addressing key issues affecting Uganda’s transport sector.
President Museveni, who was joined by First Lady Janet Museveni, used the occasion to promise support for boda boda riders who are struggling with high-interest loans from private moneylenders.
“It is criminal for someone to give you a rabbit and demand a cow in return,” Museveni said. “Lenders give you Shs5 million and want Shs15 million back. That’s robbery.”
He condemned exploitative lending as one of the biggest threats to progress in Uganda’s informal sectors, such as agriculture and transport. He reminded riders that the Parish Development Model (PDM) is available to provide low-interest loans, saying the same benefits will now be extended to boda boda riders.
“If you borrow Shs1 million under PDM, you only pay back Shs1.125 million after two years,” he explained.
To ensure the proper use of government funds, Museveni said that all boda boda SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations) will be certified by the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye.
This move aims to prevent past mistakes where SACCOs collapsed due to poor management and corruption.
First Lady Janet Museveni congratulated the President and called for unity among Ugandans, especially in building the economy.
“Africa is rich in resources, but we remain poor because we fight among ourselves. Let’s unite and build,” she said.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among also praised Museveni, calling Uganda “a country everyone wants to live in,” and thanked him for supporting the boda boda industry.
The United Riders Cooperative Union chairperson, Mr. Frank Mawejje, thanked the President for training riders in patriotism and SACCO management. He said this has helped them run their unions more professionally.
“Now we have accountants and lawyers. In the past, SACCOs used to collapse,” Mawejje said.
He also asked the government to take action against moneylenders who are still confiscating riders’ National IDs as loan security.
Union Business Advisor Fred Ssenoga asked for cooperation between boda boda and taxi operators and suggested the creation of “Union Villages” to help riders and drivers own homes.
He also asked the government to review the Shs700,000 fee for digital number plates, saying it’s unfair to charge boda bodas the same as luxury car owners.
Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF) Chairperson Sekindi Rashid thanked the President for uniting the previously divided taxi industry. He requested Museveni to officially launch the new taxi park in Kampala.
The event ended with messages promoting discipline, innovation, and cooperation across Uganda’s transport and entertainment sectors. Leaders pledged to build on Museveni’s legacy to improve the lives of everyday Ugandans.
