When two Voice of Muhabura staff members spotted a ‘girl-like’ commercial motorcyclist (boda boda), on Kisoro-Mutolere road, they were curious.
It sank into their minds, and next was a move to iidentify which lady dared ‘men’s work’.
So, she was tracked, and the quest went successful within three days.
The short, chocolate-skinned young lady met Julius Nkunda, and accepted a media engagement.
Julius, the www.vomuhabura.com Chief Editor was wowed by the riding skills of Monday Immaculate, an orphan who dropped out of school at Primary Six.
She accepted his invitation for a live radio interview in the NewsHour program that runs on Thursday evenings between 21:00 and 13:00.
The show highlighted a brave young lady who went against all odds to be the first woman in the boda boda business in Kisoro.
Her interview followed one with a female truck driver, Nyangoma Shallon, currently working with Hima Cement.
It is this interview that caught the attention of Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF), a social enterprise that aims to transform Ugandans from subsistence farming into agribusiness.
GLF empowers Uganda’s vast human resource with the competences required to build and start a strong agro-based enterprise.
Byiringiro Amos, the Kisoro district GLF Coordinator, picked interest and sought to meet the lone female boda boda rider.
Immaculate and Byiringiro met at Miami Hotel in Kisoro Municipality on April 10, 2024.
“I got interested in such a girl that was doing boda boda business in Kisoro after I saw the news on Voice of Muhabura’s WhatsApp group and on the website. I had to meet her and that’s how I invited you to come and witness this,” said Byiringiro.
According to Byiringiro, Gudie Leisure Farm supports transportation as one of the vital aspects in the agribusiness chain.
He delivered a package of riding gear, that comprised a helmet, pants and a jacket. Byiringiro said that a pair of gloves, boots and a riding licence would be delivered soon.
According to him, this is to aid the smooth running of her work, and ensure safety.
“At Gudie Leisure Farm, we have at least 23 groups of farmers and other stakeholders in the value-addition chain and we hold meetings every three months.
Immaculate will be an added team player who has already started inspiring our community members. She has already secured an appointment with a girl who wants to train in riding a motorcycle starting tomorrow,” He noted.
The district coordinator adds that they want to see more ladies rise beyond the normal and get involved in anything that earns income.
“We would like to see more ladies come up and join Immaculate in this type of profession, and we would like her to train other young women whom we work with,” He noted.
Byiringiro told Voice of Muhabura that in the last four years, Gudie Leisure Farm has trained 18 youths that include six girls to ride motorcycles.
He however says that no girl has been daring enough to do the boda boda job, despite having the requisite training in transportation.
21-year-old Immaculate expressed gratitude after receiving the riding gear. She believes this will add on her confidence while doing ‘men’s work’ and she will be able to deliver effectively.
“You can see what I have received can help me to work even during the rainfall. I can’t fail to deliver a package when it’s raining!”
She added, “I did not have a helmet and this is an advantage. I am grateful to Gudie Leisure Farm and you Voice of Muhabura for this.”
Kabagyeni Rosemary is one of the six girls trained by GLF in transportation. She sees Immaculate, who is younger than her, as an inspiration.
“I enrolled for training in 2020. I got expert skills in riding a motorcycle and received a riding licence and gear. However, I was not brave enough to kick off work as a boda boda rider. But after seeing Immaculate, I am inspired and will not look back once I have a motorcycle.”
Gudie Leisure Farm mobilizes, organizes and builds the capacity of youth-owned MSEs that operate at the different nodes of the white meat, cereals, oilseeds, tubers, pulses and horticultural value chains to profitably and competitively produce and deliver high quality products and services to the marketplace as competent inter-linked supply chain partners.
Its founder and Managing Director is Professor Gudula Naiga Basaza.
The entity has built a network of 112,900 youth in 750 parishes in all regions of Uganda across 30 districts including; – Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, Lwengo, Kyotera, Masaka, Kiryandongo, Luweero, Dokolo, Moroto, Arua, Amolatar, Nwoya, Soroti, Jinja, Namisindwa, Tororo, Hoima, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kabale, Kisoro, Kikuube, Fort Portal, Kamwenge and Kassanda, Rubanda, Butambala, Kabongo, Rakai and operates in 6 refugee settlements – Rwamwanja, Kiryandongo, Maaji, Nakivale, Rhino and Kyangwali.
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