Uganda's Electric Revolution: Swappable Batteries and Rising E-Mobility

Uganda is accelerating its shift towards electric transport. Companies like Zembo and Bodawerk now offer e-motorcycles with swappable batteries across Kampala. Rising fuel prices and government targets are driving the change. Zembo has set up 42 swap-and-charge stations in greater Kampala. Riders can quickly exchange batteries instead of waiting for a recharge. Bodawerk has also entered the market, increasing competition in the e-mobility sector.

E-boda taxis cost the same as traditional ones, but passengers like Brenda Anena prefer them for their lower running costs. Meanwhile, fuel prices have climbed to €1.55 per litre, up from €1.20 before the Iran conflict.

In Jinja, electric buses are being assembled, with nearly 50 already built. AfricroozE, a German firm, plans to introduce electric cargo bikes in the region soon. Germany’s KfW bank and its subsidiary DEG are supporting these investments in developing nations, including Uganda. Uganda aims to ban combustion-engine motorcycle imports by 2030. The country plans to fully electrify its transport sector by 2040. The UN has also declared 2026–2035 the Decade of Sustainable Transport, aligning with these efforts.