The President was speaking during his end of year national address from his home in Rwakitura. He said government has entered an agreement with investors to deliver the electric motorcycles at zero cost for the riders.
“We have agreed with some investors, to take away the petrol ones and give the owners the electric ones. This swap will save motorcycle operators 50% of the cost," he said.
The investors will in turn receive licences and operate battery charging stations for the motorcycles.
This development comes at a time when boda-boda riders are protesting regulations by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). The City wants all riders to pay a fee of Shs300,000 for registration, training and licence, a move that has enraged the industry.
However, according to Monica Musenero, the Science and Technology Minister, government is already working with private companies: Bodawerk International Limited and Zembo, who are already manufacturing the motorcyles.
The terms and conditions of the electric motorbikes according to Musenero
The companies selling the bikes have an installment payment plan of two years.
Each motorbike costs Shs5 million
They are 60% cheaper to operate than the current ones because they don’t take fuel.
Charging the motorbike takes a very small fraction.
"The rider doesn’t have to own the battery. They will be leasing the batteries. When running low, the rider will go to the next charging station to change it and pay some money to get another one and leave the one which is low at the station," she added.
Said battery can run for up to 70 Kilometres.
They don’t have a lot of serviceable parts which gets the operator more money.
Because they are made here, we are taking care of safety measures and local circumstances. "For example if it is stolen, it will report to us and we will be able to switch it off. If you try to remove parts, it will report. This will enhance security of the motorcycle,” she said.
Charging stations have already been installed along Masaka road, Buwama, Lukaya and Masaka City. More stations are in the works across the country.
According to President Museveni, this move is bedrock to the plan to shift the entire transport system to electric driven from petrol in a bid to save the environment.