In Uganda, the debate concerning electric vehicles (EV) was recently revived when President Museveni spoke to the nation about the high cost of petrol. And for the time being, it appears that the government is working toward boosting electric automobiles. However, the plan is to set up charging stations around the nation even without enabling legislation.
The government anticipates 300,000 motorbikes and at least 250 electric buses on the road by 2026, all of which will be supported by at least 75 fast chargers. The initiatives taken by the Kiira Motors Corporation to introduce electric buses, some of which are now operating on routes like the Bweyogere to Busega line, which provides public transportation.In the field of electric bikes, we already have other businesses like Zembo and boda works, which should help the government achieve its objective.
But it’s crucial to address the issue of charger rules. Once the National Charging System is operational, it will offer stability and trust, assisting long-term customers as well as investors in entering this market. Therefore, it is also the responsibility of these businesses to assist the government in determining the type of EV charging required to promote electric mobility in Uganda.
It was discovered during a recent meeting between local and international specialists that the ecosystem will need economies of scale to reduce the initial scaling up costs because a single investor might not be able to make the significant investment alone. Approximately 45,000 cars and 120,000 motorcycles are imported into Uganda each year. The majority of these are pre-owned automobiles with an average age of 15 years that pollute far more than they were initially intended to.
