Education
EBoML Project Proves Boda-Boda Riders Can Learn on the go
Enhancing Behavioural Change of Boda-Boda Riders in Uganda Using Mobile Learning (EBoML) is a three-year project initially funded for one year by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF). The goal of EBoML is to professionalise the Boda-Boda industry in Uganda using Mobile Learning (mLearning) for positive behavioural change of Boda-Boda riders. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) and Boda-Boda riders from the two pilot districts of Wakiso and Namayingo.
Speaking at the EBoML Research Dissemination Workshop held on Friday 28th May 2021, the Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and EBoML Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Paul Birevu Muyinda noted that although the Boda-Boda industry employs more than 50% of youth, it lacks order, the riders have limited or no savings and they face a myriad of health risks.
Furthermore, riders by the “nomadic” nature of their work cannot be gathered into the organised classroom settings and given one-off training on behavioural change. The solution; take learning to the beneficiaries wherever they are, provided they have a smartphone and an internet connection.
“We therefore developed a multimedia-based Positive Behavioural Change virtual mLearning Environment (PBC-mLE) for self-paced and/or assisted lifelong learning in; safe-driving principles, health-living and entrepreneurship” remarked Dr. Birevu.
The PBC-mLE was then rolled-out in the pilot districts, evaluated and the purpose of the dissemination workshop was to present findings from that exercise.
Presenting findings from the Entrepreneurship Module, Mr. Turyakira Nazarius shared that the majority of Boda-boda riders (83%) knew the importance of saving and 69% were in the habit of saving regularly, with only 5% admitting to never having saved. The majority (40%) preferred to save with the Boda-Boda scheme, while a third (33%) opted to keep their savings in a secret location at home. 14% saved with a bank, 8% saved with a trusted person and 5% used other undeclared methods.
Further analysis revealed that solving daily household demands and paying school fees at 22% each accounted for the largest expenditure of savings. These were followed by buying household assets and caring for parents at 16% each, servicing loans (7%) and other expenditures (17%).
The Boda-Boda riders were also asked to share the most important skills they would wish to acquire. At 26%, the need for skills on how to secure more capital topped the riders aspirations. This was followed by basic knowledge about the Boda-Boda business at 22%, Marketing at 19% and Customer care at 16%. Record keeping accounted for 13% of the responses while 4% aspired to learn other skills in areas such treating cattle diseases.
At the end of the entrepreneurship module, riders were expected to know; the different ways of saving, the different types of businesses, good customer care practices and how to use savings from Boda-Boda riding to start up another business.
“Being a service industry, good or bad hygiene impacts directly on the riders’ lives and those of their customers thereby having an impact on the business” remarked team member, Ms. Lillian Mbabazi from the Department of Performing Arts and Film (PAF) as she presented findings from the Health and Safe-Living Module.
Findings revealed that 66% of Boda-Boda riders acquire health information from their fellow riders or friends, 51% from healthcare providers and 50% from family or the mass media. Other riders reported that they secure information from; health outreaches, social media, school or classes, herbalists, the internet and other sources.
A number of health issues were reported to impact the lives of Boda-Boda riders. Accidental injury, hygiene and substance abuse had the highest recorded impact at 80%, 44% and 42% respectively. Additionally, intentional injury and violence accounted for 38%, unwanted pregnancy and parenting-28.7%, Sexual health-27% and obesity-11%.
Boda-Boda riders reported a number of barriers they faced in accessing healthcare. These, in order of priority included; high costs, long waiting lists, embarrassment, lack of knowledge, long distances to facilities, time constraints and language barrier among others.
Furthermore, healthy eating, emergency services and dental services at 53%, 52% and 45% respectively were reported by the riders as aspects of healthcare that lacked sufficient information. Others reported were; mental health, prolonged disease or condition management, education about physical activity, primary health care, substance abuse and treatment, and reproductive health.
Boda-Boda riders when not on the move are usually stationed at designated stages. Under personal and workplace hygiene, only 30% of riders reported that they had access to running water for handwashing. Additionally, while 83% of riders admitted to bathing three or more times a week, 6% said they bathed only once a week. On the bright side, 39% of the riders admitted to bathing twice a day.
In terms of risky sexual behaviour, whereas 65.7% of the riders reported that they had sex with one to two sexual partners in the past 12 months, 23% had engaged in sex with three or more women in the same period. On an alarming note, 57% of the riders reported that they did not use a condom in the past six months prior to the survey.
Engaging with multiple sexual partners is a high-risk sexual behavior especially in the absence of condom use. The researchers therefore sought to find out the number of women impregnated by the riders in the last twelve months. Whereas the majority (53%) reported that they hadn’t impregnated any women in the period, 36% had impregnated one, 6% two, 4% three and 1% four or more.
Further examination of the relationship between riders and the women revealed that whereas 35% had impregnated their wives and 5% their girlfriends, disturbingly, 1% had impregnated a student and another 1% a stranger. 4% admitted to impregnating a girl/woman who was neither a wife, nor a girlfriend, nor a student, nor a stranger. The majority (54%) opted not to state their relationship with the woman they impregnated.
Transactional sex between Boda-Boda riders and clients who fail to pay cash for their trips has often been talked about but with no figures of its extent. Findings from the EBoML team revealed that whereas 88% of Boda-Boda riders reported that they do not engage in transactional sex, 12% admitted to engaging in the practice.
Away from the health and safe-living, the third and final module on Safe-Driving revealed that 63% of Boda-Boda riders sampled had less than five years of riding experience. Nevertheless, 12% admitted to having more than ten years of riding experience and the rest (25%) had six to ten years of experience.
Adulthood is a regulatory requirement for operation of motor vehicles because maturity is considered a critical factor for decision making. The project therefore sought to ascertain at what age the riders first operated a motorcycle. Whereas the majority of riders (84.6%) said that they were 18 years and above at the point of first riding, 6.8% admitted to have started riding while still below 18 years of age. 8.6% of respondents said they were more than 30 years of age at their first riding attempt.
A driving permit is a legal requirement for every Boda-Boda rider. That notwithstanding, only 13% of respondents were in possession of a driving permit, with the majority (87%) having never acquired one. A further analysis of the reasons as to why riders didn’t possess permits revealed the expense involved as the biggest deterrent at 75%. Others reasons cited were; ability to freely ride without a permit (34%), ignorance of permit acquisition procedures (43%) and no time to process the permit (10%). Despite not possessing driving permits, 90% of Boda-Boda riders claimed to know the rules governing the road usage.
The pilot also sought to determine the leading causes of Boda-Boda accidents. Crossing animals at 43.5% were cited as the leading cause, followed by over speeding and other motorists/Boda-Boda riders at 41.5% and 30.5% respectively. Other causes cited included; poor mechanical condition of motorcycles, struggling for passengers with peers, overloading, excitement during celebrations, drink driving and other causes at 21.5%, 16%, 15.5%, 11%, 8.5% and 6.5% respectively.
In terms of training needs under this module, the majority (66%) of riders required training in basic mechanics to help reduce their expenses at the garage. Additionally, 65% required training in road safety while 4% preferred training in both defensive driving and understanding road signs.
The dissemination workshop would have been incomplete without feedback from the project beneficiaries. Speaking on behalf of the Boda-Boda riders, Mr. Ayebazibwe Rogers and Mr. Alibe Jonathan both based in Wakiso District thanked the EBoML team for according them the opportunity to access lifelong learning without interrupting their work schedules. The riders highlighted some of the valuable lessons learnt in each module as;
Under the Entrepreneurship Module:
- How best to start up a small scale business alongside the Boda-Boda job
- Importance of saving money even the least earnings and why one should save
- Customer care
- How to deal with losses
- Book keeping
- Good work ethics and appreciating the value of work
Under the Safe-Driving Module:
- Importance of the wearing helmets and protective gear
- Defensive driving
- Simple mechanics
- Importance of road signs and colour codes
- Smartness and presentability
- Road use in consideration of other road users
Under the Health and Safe-Living Module:
- How to avoid use of drugs and narcotics
- How to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Healthy dieting
- Good personal hygiene
- A health body is the primary tool of work
- A healthy rider attracts more customers
The riders’ representatives nevertheless asked that the learning materials be adapted into simpler English and make use videos/illustrations that are relevant to the Ugandan setting.
In her remarks, Ms. Nazziwa Sharifah who represented the Permanent Secretary (PS), MoGLSD expressed her Ministry’s gratefulness at being part of the project. She said the Ministry under its Department of Occupational Safety and Health inspects workplaces for safety standards and investigates accidents, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences. She noted that though informal, the Boda-Boda industry, was an asset to the National workforce.
“I therefore encourage Boda-Boda riders as assets in our workforce to always ensure that they wear their helmets and maintain good personal hygiene and health practices” she said.
Ms. Nazziwa reassured participants of of her Ministry’s readiness to protect the rights and safety of all workers, the majority of whom are youth. She equally recommended that since the majority of the Boda-Boda riders were either illiterate or semi-literate, the EBoML project should translate learning materials into local languages so as to reach more beneficiaries.
The MoGLSD representative also shared that the Green Jobs and Fair Labour Market Programme under her Ministry is tasked with, among other objectives, providing support to youth and women in form of affordable credit and grants at both individual and group levels. She therefore urged the Boda-Boda riders to always value their group schemes.
Representing the PS, MoWT, Mr. Bageya Waiswa, the Senior Road Safety Officer in the same ministry, Mr. Katunguka James commended CEES for the EBoML innovation that is going to tremendously address behavioural change among Boda-Boda riders and improve road safety. Pointing to the over 3,500 lives lost per year due to road traffic accidents, the PS said there was need for a multi-sectoral approach to influence the behaviour of road users in order for Uganda to achieve the 50% reduction in road traffic fatalities target by 2030.
“Riding competence and discipline is a key foundation for road safety that demonstrates the rider’s abilities to use the road without endangering his/her life or other road users” he explained.
He added that findings by the EBoML project findings would go a long way in helping Government to develop scientifically proven evidence-based interventions aimed at improving behavioural change of Boda-Boda riders in Uganda.
Mr. Bageya in his speech read verbatim by Mr. Katunguka equally pledged his Ministry’s support and continued partnership with CEES and promised that MoWT would spearhead the implementation of project findings.
He challenged every participant to play to play their part in sustainable road safety enhancement, concluding that “Road safety begins with you, with me and road safety is a shared responsibility.”
Please see Downloads for the detailed presentations
By Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru
The escalating fight between veteran US President Donald Trump and the powerful American institutions like Harvard University is politics, it’s bare-faced incursion into intellectual freedom that can reshape the international world of higher education, particularly for Africans. The latest “scandal,” Trump’s combative condemnation of colleges as liberal ideological hotbeds, amplified by legal intimidation and political retaliation against colleges like Harvard, is damaging America’s international reputation as the academic gold standard. Unless the trend continues, African scholars have long regarded American colleges as embodiments of intellectual liberty will seek further afield, such as China’s Tsinghua University, and redefine the landscape of scholarship.
Trump himself, bloated-check on his 2024 campaign and beyond, denounces elite universities as “woke” indoctrination centers. Demands to defund universities, ideological segregation, and laser-beam focus on diversity programs have chilled the atmosphere. Harvard, already on trial for affirmative action and accused of suppressing conservative thinking, is under greater scrutiny than ever. The Trump-endorsed Supreme Court win in 2023 over the case against racially discriminatory admissions, as a triumph for Trump and his faithful, has been exerting political pressure on institutions to fall in line. Politicization is destroying the very essence of intellectual freedom: freedom to pursue truth through means of open-ended inquiry, unhampered by interference.
For African students, it is shattering the American academic dream. America has been the preferred destination of African Muslims for many years, with 400,000 or more African students enrolled in American universities by 2023. Harvard stands for hope, intellectual activism, and interdependence worldwide. But when academic freedom is attacked, either in Muslim nations by executive fiat or group demonization, students question the system. The image of American universities as payoff politics centers rather than temples of knowledge is a great discourager.
Take the case of China, which has placed its universities at the world map. Tsinghua University, affectionately referred to as “China’s MIT,” features among the top 20 universities in the world with state-of-the-art research in AI, engineering, and global governance. China’s Belt and Road initiative has already prompted scholarship collaborations with Africa, awarding more than 50,000 African students scholarship annually. China provides an open alternative to America, in which political anti-foreigner prejudice and visa controls have tightened but in which Tsinghua’s insistence upon technical discipline and non-Western-inspired political scandal-mongering offers a sanctuary to those denied security and possibility.
Life for African students is a game. If the shine fades from American campuses, Nigerian, Kenyan, or Ghanaian students may be lured by the more appealing prospect of subsidized campuses and meritocratic competition culture of Tsinghua. Chinese universities, though not inexpensive, are another deal: intellectual seriousness untainted by ideational competition distorting American campuses. To Africans bureaucratically and financially strained in America, China’s streamlined visa process and subsidized schooling are appealing. Tsinghua welcomed 20% more African applicants in 2024, and the figures can only go up if America’s learning environment deteriorates.
This has far-reaching implications. Chinese-educated Africans will increasingly adopt the Beijing approach to geopolitics, enhancing China’s soft power in Africa. America will lose the intellectual and cultural capital that it has gained through decades of exportation of Africa’s best and brightest for studies in its institutions. Harvard-educated African leaders have led the innovation and governance driver in the continent; a transition to Tsinghua would funnel those networks into China’s quarter. In order to ensure academic freedom and global competitiveness, America should not politicize its colleges and universities. Institutional autonomy must be upheld by academics and legislative members in a situation where scholarship, rather than ideology, is the basis of higher education. For the students from Africa, the consequence is ominous: college selection not only determines their future but that of the continent. And if the Trump-Harvard soap opera continues chewing away at American scholarship’s trust factor, Tsinghua’s gates will swing wider and wider, and Africa’s best and brightest will walk through them with the U.S. in their rearview mirror.
About the Author
Makerere University has been selected to participate in Phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative aimed at the development of a five-year digital pedagogy transformation roadmap (2025-2030).
This noble task championed by the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) through its expert team at the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) will shape the future of e-learning and digital education in Uganda.
In phase 2, the Mastercard Foundation commits to supporting e-Learning and digital transformation based on the needs of each institution. Makerere University’s consideration for Phase 2 follows the successful implementation of phase 1 of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative (2021-2024), which registered remarkable achievements.
‘In a bid to consolidate the gains of phase 1 and transition into a digitally resilient and learner-centred institution, Makerere University has been selected to participate in phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative. Led by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), phase 2 aims to support partner universities in designing and implementing a five-year digital pedagogy transformation roadmap (2025-2030),” highlighted Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Director of IODeL.
Speaking at the co-creation workshop held on 24th April 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Prof. Birevu Muyinda said: “During phase 1, Makerere University registered significant achievements in e-Learning. I am glad that you have convened here today during the e-Learning Digital Transformation workshop, to receive the dissemination results as we work together to prepare for phase 2, which focuses on the unique needs for each institution.”
Through phase 1, which aimed at enhancing the e-learning capabilities of partner institutions, Makerere University strengthened the existing Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE), conducted onboarding workshops for the university leadership, trained teaching staff and students, and engaged teaching staff to develop content for online courses.
According to Prof. Birevu Muyinda, the specific achievements of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative included the following:
- Training of 1,280 faculty members
- Development of 2,579 courses out of 2,560 representing 100.74%
- Development of four (4) support services modules
- Capacity building for over 7,000 students
- Training and recruitment of 32 e-Learning champions
- Upgrading of the Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE)
- Acquisition of e-Learning infrastructure namely five (5) multi-media studios, a video streaming server and all in one printers.
The co-creation workshop for phase 2 and dissemination of results for the concluded phase 1, brought on board over 75 participants comprising members of Makerere University Management, the Principal and staff of the College of Education and External Studies, a representative from the Ministry of Education and Sports, student leaders, the media, the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University(ASU)-USA, and a representative sample of staff from academic and administrative units of Makerere University.
Facilitated by Arizona State University (ASU) working closely with IODeL, the interactive co-creation sessions involved taking into account the milestones from phase 1 and leveraging the successes, as well as coming up with proposed strategies for phase 2.
The co-creation workshop involved understanding the concept transformation road mapping, using a grid to identify the current state of e-Learning and digital transformation at Makerere University and the desired state, assessment alignment on shared vision for the current and the desired state, and identifying learner needs in line with the desired state, among other items.
The workshop adopted a holistic approach to digital transformation focusing on the following themes: teaching and learning, student services, instructional infrastructure, leadership and culture, and partnerships. For each cluster, the participants proposed immediate, short-term and long-term strategies with respect to digital transformation in those processes. With each group presenting during the plenary sessions, the co-creation workshop was a success. The ideas were captured instantly feeding into the proposal for the phase 2 e-learning digital transformation roadmap (2025-2030).
At this highly participatory workshop, reaching consensus was a key factor in determining the ideas that were included in the proposal.
In addition to the aforementioned clusters, some of the broader aspects that the co-creation teams highlighted should be prioritized included:
- Adoption of e-supervision of students
- Increasing enrollment of international students through e-Learning
- Reducing the digital divide among learners
- Ensuring digital inclusion with programs sensitive to learners with disabilities
- Capacity building programmes for administrative support
Opening the co-creation workshop, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Makerere University, conveyed the congratulatory messages from the University Council and Management on the successful completion of phase 1 and its remarkable achievements.
On behalf of the University Management, Prof. Buyinza said, phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative should be a revolutionary phase, igniting Makerere University to be a key player in digital education and integration of technologies.
Reflecting on youth empowerment, Prof. Buyinza highlighted that phase 2 is student-centred with e-Learning and digital pedagogies addressing the needs of learners. In addition, Prof. Buyinza underscored that this approach will increase the number of students accessing quality education programmes at Makerere University at the national and international levels.
The Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) commended the Mastercard Foundation for partnering with Makerere University to empower the young people through education and technological advancements. Prof. Buyinza acknowledged the collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and Arizona State University (ASU) for building the capacity of faculty at Makerere University.
Emphasizing the importance of building capacity, retooling and reshaping the curriculum to produce graduates who meet the demands of the modern workforce, Prof. Buyinza re-affirmed that Makerere University is a learning institution committed to embracing new approaches. He recognized the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) for holding onboarding workshops for the University leadership, staff and students in phase 1.
Prof. Buyinza testified that the onboarding sessions changed his perception, and transformed him into a firm believer in positioning e-Learning to champion the digital transformation agenda at Makerere University. He disclosed that he is a “convert” to the transformative potential of technology integration, learner-centeredness, industry partnerships, and lifelong learning, key features of University 5.0.
He urged participants to utilize the co-creation e-Learning digital transformation workshop to define institutional needs and expectations, allowing for a more rapid and collaborative advancement into the “revolutionary” phase 2.
Building on the Prof. Buyinza’s submission, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga informed the participants that phase 2, which focuses on e-Learning and digital transformation should empower the faculty and university at large to provide inclusive education. He implored the co-creation team and stakeholders to come up with digital strategies for students who are visually impaired and those with hearing impairments.
Prof. Mugagga emphasized the importance of continuous learning and self-examination, stating that even a professor should strive to be open to new knowledge. With reference to Socrates’ philosophy, he suggested that a life devoid of learning is not worth living.
In a moving testimony, the Principal explained that he is always learning new ideas from his techy savvy son. Prof. Mugagga shared that his son continues to be instrumental in teaching him online safety principles and techniques. This experience underscored the generational gap in digital literacy and the importance of adapting to the evolving digital landscape.
The Principal expressed his hope to learn from the workshop, acknowledging that digital transformation requires everyone to be proactive in acquiring new skills.
On behalf of the students, Hon. Julius Kiganda, the Minister of Academic Affairs at Makerere University commended the organisers for including students in the e-Learning digital transformation workshop. Hon. Kiganda pledged active participation in the training to ensure that the interests of the students are effectively captured.
Evaluating phase 1, Ann Nielsen from Mastercard Foundation recognized that the institutions had built a solid foundation, prompting a transition into phase 2 to address the unique needs of each university.
“Phase 2 will prioritize scaling training and knowledge mobilization, offering opportunities for scholars to pursue learning design and technologies, graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and professional certificates tailored for individuals seeking instructional design knowledge.
“Mastercard Foundation will emphasize inclusive learning practices, collaborating with experts to ensure accessibility and equity. The Foundation aims to enhance digital infrastructure, focusing on student support systems, quality management, and data-driven decision-making in order to meet diverse learner needs,” Nielsen explained.
The Foundation revealed that the ultimate goal is to collectively impact policies across the continent, advocating for e-learning as a valid and accredited pathway to quality education. Recognizing the network’s growing maturity, the initiative aims to position participating universities as leaders and resources, fostering collaborative learning and co-creation.
The Foundation’s participation stems from a belief in the future of young Africans, seeking to equip them with education and skills to fulfill their careers by strengthening institutions and scaling innovative solutions through technology. The focus shifts from a reactive response to a sustainable and long-term initiative.
Regan Matsiko, the IT Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to digital advancement, drawing on prior experience with the national digital transformation roadmap initiated by the Ministry of ICT. “This roadmap, built on five key pillars including digital scaling and infrastructure development, serves as a foundation for current initiatives within the education sector.”
Matsiko emphasized the Ministry of Education and Sports’ development of a digital agenda last year as demonstration of a proactive approach to integrating technology.
He commended the partnership with universities in developing e-learning programs. Matsiko noted a shift towards a more integrated structure within the Ministry, where the ICT department now includes a dedicated e-learning department working directly with university partners, demonstrating a unified push for digital transformation in education.
The voices from key stakeholders set the stage for an interactive and high participatory training session. Lara Rabala the facilitator of the training outlined the primary objectives. These included: To collaboratively envision e-learning-driven classrooms, not only for the host institution but also for external partners, aligning proposed initiatives with McKinney’s strategies and broader community programs.
She noted that a key focus will be on formulating recommendations that correspond with critical areas to drive the development of a roadmap and implementation plan.
Labala stressed that the aim is to establish a clear vision for the future, crafting a transformative roadmap and a practical implementation plan. This roadmap will serve as the foundation for a tangible proposal to attract funding and partnerships, articulating the vision and direction for key learning and behavioral transformation.
Trainees were encouraged to respect the past as the foundation for the present and future, while also imagining innovative possibilities. Trainees, regardless of their expertise, were urged to maintain curiosity, open-mindedness, and value every voice.
The co-creation sessions featured the following clusters:
- Teaching and learning: Digital strategy, pedagogical services, faculty development and staff support
- Student services: Engagement-enrollment, Administrative support and Academic Support
- Instructional Infrastructure: Connectivity, Educational technology, and Instructional design learning analysis
- Leadership and Culture: Internal stakeholders, Leadership structure, Governance models, Innovative Culture
- Partnerships: Development, Evaluation and External Stakeholders
Closing the co-creation workshop, Prof. Birevu Muyinda said: “The exercise has presented us with an understanding of the major activities to be undertaken and the key priorities.”
With the support of the Mastercard Foundation and other partners, Makerere University is focused to develop a comprehensive e-learning roadmap, driving innovation and excellence in education.
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