Uganda’s capital, Kampala, could see electric taxis on its roads before the end of 2026, following a move by the Union Transport Alliance (UTA) to begin transitioning the city’s taxi fleet to electric vehicles.
UTA, an umbrella body bringing together taxi, bus and truck drivers and boda boda riders, announced the plan after a recent benchmarking visit to China, where a delegation assessed electric taxi technology and the infrastructure supporting it.
Speaking on behalf of the union, Amon Mulyowa said the first electric taxis could begin operating in Uganda before the end of the year, although the total rollout will depend on establishing battery-swapping stations and other supporting infrastructure.
“We are looking at by the end of the year, because before the taxis come in, we need to have the energy network in place, because we need to have the swapping stations,” he said.
Taxi Union chairman Rashid Sekindi said the delegation’s visit was intended to assess whether the technology used in China could be adapted to Uganda’s operating environment.
“Our visit to China was to learn more about taxi technology and assess whether electric taxis can work in Uganda,” Sekindi said.
He said the delegation concluded that electric taxis could work in Uganda, but cautioned against simply replicating the Chinese model.
“From what we observed, they can work, but the system needs some modifications to fit our local environment,” he said.
Gradual payment
Mulyowa said the proposed scheme could allow taxi drivers, owners and other investors to acquire electric vehicles through a gradual payment arrangement instead of paying the full purchase price upfront.
“They will be able to get an electric taxi after paying some small money, and then the taxi’s on the road, they pay back the balance in small portions,” he said.
The arrangement, if implemented, could lower the initial financial barrier for taxi operators and allow them to begin earning from the vehicles while paying off the remaining cost.
However, the transition will require more than importing electric vehicles. Mulyowa said a network of battery-swapping stations would be critical to ensuring that the taxis can operate reliably, particularly because drivers would need a quick way to replace depleted batteries rather than wait for them to recharge.
Cutting fuel costs
Frank Mawejje, chairman of the Boda Union, encouraged other transport sector leaders to support the transition, arguing that wider adoption of electric vehicles could reduce fuel expenditure while helping address environmental concerns.
“By embracing electric vehicles together, we can reduce fuel costs, protect our environment, and build a stronger transport industry for Uganda,” Mawejje said.
The proposed transition would mark a significant shift for Kampala’s public transport sector, but its success will depend on the availability of charging or battery-swapping infrastructure, financing arrangements and the ability to adapt electric taxi technology to Uganda’s operating conditions.