Wheels of opportunity: social factors and humane entrepreneurship in Uganda's boda-boda sector

Purpose This study explores the role of Uganda's boda-boda industry in fostering humane entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods within the informal urban transport systems, with a focus on the interplay of social, cultural, economic and regulatory factors. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative, cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with boda-boda riders in Kampala. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo to capture lived experiences and emergent practices. Findings The study reveals how boda-boda riders' self-organized mutual aid and democratic governance exemplify humane entrepreneurship in informal economies, offering pathways to formalized ethical livelihoods sustained through social networks and mutual aid. Challenges include systemic police harassment, financial instability and gender disparities, with female riders facing cultural resistance and safety risks despite increasing participation. Municipal authorities could partner with stages to co-design vocational training and micro-insurance programs for riders and scale stage-based mutual aid to strengthen the urban social safety net for vulnerable women and youth. Research limitations/implications This study's qualitative focus on Kampala may limit generalizability to rural contexts. While rich in experiential data, the cross-sectional design cannot assess longitudinal impacts of humane entrepreneurship practices. Future research should incorporate quantitative measures of economic outcomes and expand geographic coverage to validate findings across Uganda's diverse regions. The reliance on self-reported data may introduce response bias, suggesting the need for observational methods in subsequent studies. Practical implications Findings suggest that policymakers should formalize stage governance structures to amplify existing humane practices, such as peer accountability and collective savings. Municipal authorities could partner with stages to co-design vocational training and micro-insurance programs. Regulatory reforms should address police extortion while preserving rider autonomy. Ride-hailing platforms might integrate stage-based operators through hybrid digital-physical dispatch systems. Social implications The study demonstrates how informal transport systems can foster social cohesion through collective problem-solving. Women's growing participation challenges gender norms in traditionally male-dominated sectors. By validating riders' self-governance models, this research advocates for policies that recognize informal workers' dignity and agency. Successful scaling of stage-based mutual aid could strengthen urban social safety nets, particularly for marginalized youth. However, unaddressed harassment risks may perpetuate the exclusion of vulnerable groups, underscoring the need for targeted protections. Originality/value This study contributes novel insights into how global urbanization trends intersect with localized social capital to shape informal transport economies. It highlights the viability of humane entrepreneurship in resource-constrained settings and offers policy pathways for formalizing ethical practices while addressing systemic vulnerabilities.