Uganda Revenue Authority FC (URA) have bought motorcycle taxis for their players to help them earn extra cash against the rising economic hardships in the country.
URA which is one of the biggest clubs in Uganda made this move to enhance the income of their players to offset the rising cost of living in the capital of Kampala.
The acquisition of the motorcycle taxis popularly known in Uganda as ‘Boda Bodas’ will be used for commercial purposes as a mode of transporting people and goods.
URA chairman Ali Ssekatawa says the club’s doesn’t want their players to solely rely on their salaries as footballers hence the decision to buy them the motorbikes for busibess.
The club’s management as, however, asked the players to hire riders and not to ride the motorbikes themselves, due to the risk involved.
"We are looking at a way of having a self-sustaining system and when our staff is sorted they can play well," Ssekatawa said.
URA FC are one of the most popular Uganda Premier League sides and have represented the East African country in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions - Africa's biggest continental club competitions.
The numbers of boda bodas have recently ballooned in Kampala, but so have the number of accidents - rising eight-fold in the past eight years, with businesses looking at safer ways of operating the bikes.
Earlier this year URA FC's commissioner Doris Akol promised they would help the players with an alternative money-making venture and club chairman Ssekatawa delivered 17 motorbikes to the players at the club's training ground on Thursday.
Long-serving defender and Uganda international Simeon Masaba said he favoured the initiative, as it will help the players to earn extra income for their families.
"The club will be deducting our pay for some months so that we pay the percentage for the [running of the] motorbikes," Masaba said.
The defender added that although the motorbike business is risky, with thieves targeting the boda bodas, he thinks if managed well it could make a good small business for the URA footballers.
"This is a good move by the club and most of us are happy about it," striker Robert Ssentongo added.
Team coach Kefa Kisaala also received one of the bikes and said he was happy with the move.
However, attacking midfielder Saidi Kyeyune, said he did not agree with the initiative as he thinks it will be difficult to manage.