Officials from he United Boda Boda Cooperative Union (UBBRCU) and RZ Innovations Ltd in a group photo after the tour
In a move to champion local manufacturing, the United Boda Boda Cooperative Union (UBBRCU) and RZ Innovations Ltd, makers of motor spare parts, have partnered to stimulate the production of auto parts made in Uganda.
The collaboration was arrived at during a tour of the RZ Innovations Ltd factory by top Boda Boda Union leadership on August 16, 2025 alongside Robert Zikuzooka, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, RZ Innovations Ltd, Frank Mawejje, Chairman, UBBRCU and Humphrey Nabimanya, CEO, Reach A Hand, Uganda.
The visit aimed to foster a working relationship with RZ Innovations Ltd ahead of the upcoming Union Boda Festival, a fun-filled day for Boda Boda riders, slated for September 14th.
This collaboration essentially entails boda boda riders purchasing motorcycle spare parts directly from RZ Innovations Ltd. In return, RZ will support the riders with business mentorship and investment training through their cooperative. This collaboration aims to empower the union’s members and boost the local industry.
According to Mr Mawejje, the union’s large membership will increase the demand for locally made auto parts, which will ultimately lead to higher local production.
“For a long time, we believed many of our spare parts were imported from places like Japan. We want to establish a relationship where we buy locally to reduce the money we spend on imports,” Mr Mawejje said, highlighting the union’s large membership, noting that their collective demand could significantly boost RZ’s production. “Just last week, we distributed over 2,500 motorcycles, which shows the potential demand for local spare parts,” Mawejje added.
The Boda Boda Industry which is the second largest employer in Uganda. Available data show that there are an estimated 1.2 million Boda Boda riders in Uganda with about 150,000 registered stages. In Kampala alone, there are 350,000 Boda Boda riders and 1,021 registered stages.
Meanwhile, the United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union boasts a membership of over 100,000 riders.
Mawejje stressed the importance of quality, saying, “Our numbers are able to consume all the locally made spare products, but our main concern is quality. When the quality is good, we will buy.” He reiterated that quality is key to business sustainability.
In response, RZ Innovations CEO Robert Zikuzooka welcomed the partnership. “We are ready to work together and also plan to support the festival,” he said. Zikuzooka then assured the union of his company’s commitment to quality. “Quality is what we breathe. Our RZ tire is the number one-selling tire in Africa. Our tires sell themselves,” he proudly stated.
He also announced plans for a joint safety initiative. “One area we want to work together on is safety. We will provide free reflector jackets and support personal development,” he added.
Humphrey Nabimanya also expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, specifically mentioning the collaborative opportunities during the upcoming festival.
