Boda-bodas are Uganda's most popular form of transport, but they are also the country's single largest source of orthopaedic trauma. The Uganda Road Safety report estimates that motorcycle accidents account for over 40% of all road traffic injuries in Kampala, with femoral shaft fractures, tibial fractures, and distal radius fractures being the most common presentations.
The human cost
Eighty-three per cent of orthopaedic trauma patients in Uganda are working-age males supporting families. A femur fracture that might be treated within hours in a well-resourced setting can mean weeks of delay in Uganda, as patients struggle with transport costs to reach hospitals in Kampala. One documented case involved a patient waiting nearly a month for treatment.
What surgeons need
Treating boda-boda injuries requires a reliable supply of intramedullary nails for femoral and tibial fractures, plates and screws for distal radius and other peri-articular fractures, external fixators for complex open fractures, and soft tissue repair instruments. Having these products available locally is not a luxury — it is a necessity.
Prevention and response
While helmet laws exist, enforcement remains inconsistent. Orthopaedic suppliers play a role not only in providing hardware but also in supporting training programmes that improve surgical outcomes for trauma patients across Uganda.