Factors determining the growth of motorcycle transport in Kampala District

Abstract

A vast majority of people living in East and Central Africa suffer inadequate transport services and a poor road network that strains their economic growth. Intermediate modes of transport that are cheap and affordable by the poor people living in the rural areas of East Africa have become a trend. This study therefore, sought to assess the factors determining growth of motorcycle transport a case of Kawempe division in the capital city Kampala district in Uganda. The study sought to answer the following research questions: What is the influence of financing on the growth of motorcycle transport? How does unemployment affect the growth of motorcycle transport? What is the influence of informality on the growth of motorcycle transport? The target population is 100 respondents; using cochran's formula, the study had a sample size of 50 motorcycle riders from Kawempe division. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires to help in data collection. The data was analyzed by the SPSS software and MS excels where descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used. The findings of the study were presented in figures and tables. The study found out that flexibility in loan repayment afforded to motorcycle riders, poor traffic regulations, transport sector regulation on compulsory training of riders, informality of the sector, little capital in starting or running, lack of entry behavior and unemployment has made many Ugandans jump at opportunity to purchase motorcycle and join in the business. The study concludes that the motorcycle transport sector is growing at a faster rate as the main factors contributing to the growth of motorcycle business which is part of the informal transport sector are the unemployment rates especially amongst the youth, the flexibility of the operations, ease of operation and the ease of acquiring and maintaining motorcycles. The study recommends that motorcycle operators should go to riding schools to improve on their competency and form Sacco’s to handle matters concerning motorcycle operations, regulatory framework should be put in place to ensure the operators pay taxes to the governments and insurance cover for compensation in cases of accidents and government should offer subsidies to those who want to start the business and put strict regulations to control the provision of these services.