Using Platform Governance to Address Societal Challenges: Safeboda’s Impact on Traffic Safety in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

We examine the comparative effectiveness of platform governance to orchestrate a solution to a societal challenge. Motorcycle taxis are a pervasive, convenient, yet extremely dangerous transportation mode throughout the developing world. We explore three attempts to reduce traffic casualties in Kampala, Uganda: public regulation; industry self-regulation; and platform governance by Safeboda, a ridehailing app platform. In this setting, Safeboda has outperformed government and industry associations in reducing traffic deaths and injuries. We link this case to theory on public vs. private governance, and identify circumstances in which private governance is likely to be comparatively effective at addressing grand challenges.