Inspiring Entrepreneurs

Boogaali is derived from two separate words: "Boo" from the last letters of the word bamboo and "gaali" from the "Ganda" word meaning bicycle.

Kasoma Noordin, Director of Boogaali Bikes Uganda, has a passion for bamboo--what he believes to be nature's perfect plant. Strong, light and durable, it can be used to create a wide variety of functional and beautiful products. It is all natural and easily renewable. When crafted into a bicycle, it helps promote an environmentally friendly and healthy lifestyle that reduces the number of vehicles clogging crowded roadways and helps improve air quality for all.

Kasoma learned the art of crafting bicycle frames with bamboo in vocational school in Kampala. He handcrafts each frame from hand-picked, mature bamboo stems, to exact specifications. Each frame is a beautiful, unique, highly functional work of art. His frames are not only beautiful, but provide an exceptional quality of ride that has amazing vibration dampening characteristics and incredible durability.

Kasoma's workshop has assembled over 2,000 bamboo bicycle frames, mostly for European customers. The bicycles haven't really caught on with the Ugandan people, who Kasoma says are not really bicycle riding people. But he is hopeful that more locals will enjoy the thrill of riding the bamboo bikes and that the bikes will become more affordable for the local people.