Before Kagaba encountered this incident, he was always happy carrying female customers because according to him, they were safer bets for after-dark rides as they posed much less risk compared to male clients. But that one ride from Lubowa to Mpelerwe is one he still lives to tell.
Last week, we ran a story in these pages about a woman who was strangled unconscious, robbed clean and violated sexually by her trusted boda guy, and literally left for dead in Kampala. In the days that followed, some readers suggested we flip the coin and look at what boda men also go through in the hands of female clients, you know, just to balance the act. After all men and women and all humans in a fallen state, right? So we went asking boda men for their experiences. Time check, 7:30 pm. James Kagaba was riding his boda boda home after a particularly productive day. As he was passing by a fancy apartment block in the leafy neighbourhood of Lubowa, a young lady exiting the gate waved him down. James stopped. One more job to close the day couldn’t hurt a fly, especially when the said client is a lady. The only question that remained in James’ mind was how far she was going. It was already dark. It’s not like he could just ride to any destination at this time.
She was going to Mpelerwe some 15km across town from Lubowa. Too far for a night ride, James thought. Farther than he had hoped but it was a female client. Ladies tend to be safer bets for after-dark rides as they pose much less risk compared to male clients. After agreeing on the proper fare, the two set off northwards towards her destination.
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