Freedom of speech on the move how motorcycle taxis open up small mobile spaces for political talk in Uganda

This article addresses motorcycle taxis in Uganda as spaces of free political speech. It argues that their characteristics as small mobile spaces allow them to persist as one of the few remaining spaces for free political speech in an increasingly restrictive environment. To review mobile space, the article builds on Harvey’s concepts of space and Cresswell’s approach to mobility. It then proposes a framework for examining the multidimensional impacts of small mobile spaces and uses it to examine Boda-Boda motorcycle taxis in Uganda based on empirical data collected between 2018 and 2022. The findings reveal that the multidimensional characteristics of the motorcycle space and its potent mobility encourage conversations on the Boda-Boda and detach it from its surroundings. Prolific political participation, rooted in the motorcycle-based mobility of Boda-Boda riders, has further led to the emergence of discourses that label Boda-Boda riders a source of political information and frequently politicise the conversations. The role of motorcycle taxi riders as a source of political news causes competition for their favour between all political parties. Because the mobile space remains inaccessible to political actors, Boda-Bodas continuously retain their role as spaces for free speech in Uganda.