The government is set to give all motorcycle riders, including boda-boda operators, free electric motor bikes, replacing the fuel powered ones to evade rising costs.
This was revealed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during the end-of-year national address on December 31, 2022.
President Museveni said that the government has engaged investors to ensure that all riders, including boda boda operators, are given electric motorcycles free of charge.
The president added that the swap will save the operators 50 percent of the cost incurred on gasoline.
“We have agreed with some investors to take away gasoline motorcycles and replace them with electric ones. This swap will save motorcycle operators 50% of the cost,” President Museveni said.
While explaining how the investors will recover their money, the president said that they will be licensed and allowed to operate charging stations for the electric batteries on the motorcycles.
President Museveni confirmed that the government has set up a plan to shift the entire transport system from diesel and petrol-powered motor vehicles and motorcycles to electric so as to save the environment.
“We already have a work plan for shifting to electric buses, electric cars, electric piki-pikis (motorcycles), etc. that are manufactured by Kiira Motors, METU Katabaazi, and others,” he noted.
The government, together with private companies, will install electric charging stations all over the country.
Uganda has been innovating in terms of the transport sector by enhancing e-mobility to keep up with the rest of the world.