Life on Two Wheels: How Fik Joe Is Turning Boda Boda Riding into a Livelihood

By Mundrua Fiona

For Fik Joe, riding a motorcycle is more than a means of transport. It is a source of income, a pathway to saving, and a way to build a future despite the rising costs and daily challenges of the business.

For many people, a motorcycle is simply a means of getting from one place to another in East Africa. For Fik Joe, a boda boda rider and artist, it represents something much bigger: an opportunity to earn a living, support his family and work towards a more secure future.

In Adjumani, where motorcycle taxis play an important role in everyday transport, riders like Fik Joe help connect people to their destinations while navigating the realities of a demanding business. Every trip offers an opportunity to earn, but keeping the business running requires patience, savings and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Despite the challenges, Fik Joe has remained determined to make the most of his work. Through his boda boda business, he has been able to save money and establish another source of income, demonstrating how a small livelihood can create opportunities beyond the daily hustle.

More than a ride: Building a livelihood on two wheels

Boda boda riding is an important source of employment for many people, particularly where affordable and accessible transport is essential. Riders transport passengers, help people move around their communities and earn an income from the journeys they make each day.

For Fik Joe, the business has provided a practical way to support himself and his family. But like many small-scale entrepreneurs, he has to balance the money he earns with the expenses required to keep operating.

Fuel, motorcycle maintenance and spare parts all affect how much a rider can take home. When operating costs increase, the money remaining after a day's work can shrink considerably.

“The boda boda business is good. It allows us to support our families,” Fik Joe explains, while acknowledging that the work is not without its difficulties.

For riders whose earnings depend on daily demand, even a small increase in expenses can have a significant impact. A motorcycle may generate income, but it also requires regular investment to remain roadworthy and reliable.

The cost of keeping the wheels turning

One of the challenges Fik Joe identifies is the rising cost of fuel. As fuel prices increase, running a motorcycle becomes more expensive, leaving riders with less money to cover household needs and other business expenses.

The impact extends beyond the riders themselves. When transport becomes more expensive, passengers may reduce the number of trips they take or look for cheaper alternatives. This can affect the number of customers available to riders and, ultimately, their daily earnings.

Road conditions present another challenge. Poor roads can make journeys more difficult and increase wear and tear on motorcycles. Repairs and replacement parts then become additional expenses for people who rely on their motorcycles to earn a living.

Fik Joe points out that some roads are in poor condition and that motorcycle spare parts are costly. These challenges make it harder for riders to maintain their motorcycles while keeping enough money for other needs.

For someone running a small business, these are not isolated expenses. Fuel, repairs and the availability of customers are closely connected, influencing how much money can be earned and saved.

Fik Joe believes that improving road conditions and reducing fuel costs would help riders and their families. Such measures could ease the pressure on small transport businesses and allow riders to retain more of their earnings.

From daily earnings to long-term plans

Despite these obstacles, Fik Joe is not simply working to get through each day. He is also thinking about how to use his income to create opportunities for the future.

He has opened a savings account with Adjumani SACCO, where he puts aside money earned from his boda boda business. Saving provides a way to set aside some of his earnings rather than spending everything generated through daily work.

For small-scale entrepreneurs whose incomes can fluctuate, this approach can help create a financial cushion and provide resources for future plans. It also reflects an understanding that earning money and building financial security are two different things.

The ability to save depends on what remains after fuel, maintenance and other essential expenses have been covered. This makes the discipline of setting aside money particularly important, even when the amount available to save varies.

Fik Joe has also managed to establish a shop that is now operating. This marks another step in his efforts to build a livelihood beyond motorcycle transport.

His experience illustrates how income from one activity can help support another business venture. Rather than relying entirely on a single source of earnings, he is working towards creating additional opportunities for himself and his family.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, his journey offers a practical lesson: progress can begin with the resources already available, provided there is room to earn, save and reinvest.

Balancing business with a passion for music

Beyond his work as a boda boda rider, Fik Joe is also an artist who sings in the local Ma'di dialect. His identity as a musician adds another dimension to his story, showing that livelihood and personal passion can exist alongside one another.

For people working in the informal economy, pursuing creative interests can require balancing time, financial responsibilities and the immediate need to earn an income. A daily business may provide the resources needed to meet essential needs while leaving space to develop other talents.

Fik Joe's experience reflects the determination required to keep moving forward while managing different ambitions and responsibilities.

His story is not simply about owning or riding a motorcycle. It is about making use of available opportunities, adapting to difficult circumstances and continuing to work towards a better future.

Supporting the people who keep communities moving

The challenges faced by boda boda riders highlight the importance of an environment that enables small businesses to operate sustainably. Reliable roads, manageable operating costs and access to opportunities for saving can make a difference to the livelihoods of people who depend on daily earnings.

For riders like Fik Joe, improving these conditions could mean retaining more of their income, maintaining their motorcycles more affordably and having greater opportunities to invest in their futures.

Boda boda transport also serves a wider community purpose. It helps people reach destinations, supports local economic activity and provides employment for those who might otherwise have limited opportunities.

Fik Joe's journey demonstrates both the potential and the vulnerability of this livelihood. His ability to save through Adjumani SACCO and establish a functioning shop shows what determination and reinvestment can make possible. At the same time, rising fuel prices, expensive spare parts and poor road conditions remain barriers that individual effort alone cannot resolve.

For now, Fik Joe continues to work, save and pursue his ambitions. His journey on two wheels is a reminder that behind every motorcycle taxi is a person working to support a family, build a business and create opportunities for the future.

Supporting these livelihoods means recognising not only the essential services riders provide, but also the economic conditions they need to thrive.

This story was produced by Wek Atak Kajang  for the Digitalise Youth Mobile Journalism Fellowship.

Watch the video here https://youtu.be/XBkqD563WoQ