Boda boda riders launch e-commerce, digital loans platform

What the report says

The Union Transport Alliance (UTA), an umbrella group for boda boda riders, taxi operators, bus drivers and truck operators, has launched a new online platform that combines e-commerce with digital lending services. The product, called Union Online Duuka, was developed in partnership with RukaPay and is intended to link traders, customers and transport operators through a single service.

According to The Observer, the platform lets users buy and sell products online while also accessing credit products such as school fees loans, stockist loans and business top-ups. UTA chief executive Fred Ssenoga Bagenda said the initiative is meant to reflect changing shopping patterns and the rising demand for digital services.

At the launch, Boda Union chairman Frank Mawejje said the project could create extra income for boda boda riders by involving them in delivery work for items bought through the platform. He said this could reduce riders’ reliance on passenger transport, especially for those who spend long periods waiting for customers at stages.

More broadly, the platform appears designed to connect online commerce with an existing transport network, giving traders a wider customer base while creating a delivery channel for riders. In a regional context, such digital marketplaces are increasingly being used to combine trade, logistics and credit access, particularly for small businesses and informal workers.