( CNN ) Everywhere you look there are two-wheeled drivers waiting ominously for passengers to hop on board . They 're the backbone of public transport in Uganda and the fastest way to get around the capital city , Kampala . The boda boda motorbike taxi is a staple used by all sectors of society . Traditionally , the usual way of catching a ride was to venture into any street corner packed with tens of boda bodas or simply waiting for one to pass by . But now , a new local startup are bringing this classic mode of transport into the technological age by providing the ability to hail a boda boda at the click of a smartphone . `` Bodas are the main thing getting people from A to B , '' says Alastair Sussock , co-founder of SafeBoda , `` and we 're trying to professionalize this transportation in the city . '' The motorbike taxis have their greatest popularity globally in Uganda , with over 80,000 riding the streets of Kampala , according to Sussex who wants to seize upon the country 's burgeoning young population . Uganda has more than 24 % of the population aged between 10 and 19 years old , according to UNICEF -- and Sussock wants them to get on their bikes . `` Young people use smartphones in Kampala and it 's one of the youngest countries in the world , '' he says . For now , the Uber-like startup operates mainly in the northern districts of Kampala , where a click on the SafeBoda app -- in addition to the traditional method of hailing them on the street -- will bring you a Safeboda bike , complete with a uniformed driver in a bright orange jacket , helmet and fully trained in road safety . He 'll even have a helmet for you . Safety has long been a concern for those riding boda bodas as the bikes are a leading cause of death and head injury in Kampala . A study conducted at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala , by researchers at Makerere University , identified approximately 40 % of trauma cases at the hospital to be due to boda-boda accidents . I request a SafeBoda to take me to meet the team in the upmarket area of Kisementi , in Kampala 's central district . As i stand waiting , at least 10 regular boda bodas pass by beeping to get my attention and business . A driver called Richard Lalunga then arrives who I spot clearly in the distance thanks to his bright orange jacket and orange helmets -- one on his head and one on his handlebars . Lalunga has been a boda driver for four years and joined SafeBoda four months ago to learn more about road safety . He explains how he now earns more than ever before due to a loyal customer base stemming from his safe driving . The ride was in fact calmer than those taken with other bodas , and unlike some , as we ride along the congested streets no kerbs were scaled or mounted to avoid the traffic . The name stands - safeboda . The dangers lie in the low use of helmets -- by both drivers and users -- alongside risky driving and poor road safety practices . This makes many fearful of catching a two-wheeled ride but the team at SafeBoda are trying to lure people back on board . They 're reinventing the boda boda reputation to prove they can be safe , as well as fast and economical . `` It 's a market-based approach to road safety , '' says Sussock , an economist , who believes that as word spreads about the skills of his drivers , the income -- and safety -- of his drivers will rise and reflect this . `` People in Uganda do n't wear helmets , '' says Sussock . `` So how do we get them to wear helmets ? '' The answer , is by providing one . Driver training is provided in partnership with the Ugandan Red Cross and takes place for up to three weeks to cover road safety and bike maintenance -- and it seems to be working . Since its inception in November 2014 , the fleet of drivers at SafeBoda has reached 50 , currently occupying four areas towards the north and center of the city . The main need for safe driving is in the congested streets of downtown Kampala where the company plans to expand into next . `` If we train people and make them good and responsible drivers , we 're going to save lives , '' says Ricky Rapa Thomson , who manages the drivers . `` But implementing has been a challenge , '' he says about the difficulties in changing the mindsets of a population . The team are dreaming big , with plans to expand to 100 by the end of March and 800 by the end of 2015 . `` With over 1,000 drivers we can begin to change the entire boda industry , '' says Sussock . More from African Start-Up . Read this : Bike tour gives taste of township life . Read this : This 'eco stove ' does more than cook your dinner . Editor 's Note : Every week , African Start-Up follows entrepreneurs in various countries across the continent to see how they are working to make their business dreams become reality . Follow the show on Twitter .
Ugandan start-up SafeBoda are changing the face of boda-boda motorbike taxis . A click of their app brings you a bike complete with a safety trained driver and protective gear .