Uganda transport experts to discuss electric vehicles at national roundtable

KAMPALA - Transport sector leaders, policymakers, investors and energy experts are set to converge in Kampala next week for a high-level dialogue on Uganda’s transition to electric mobility.

The Uganda National Transport Roundtable (NTR), scheduled for June 4, 2026, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, will focus on the theme: “Electric Vehicles in Uganda: Powering the Nation’s Green Mobility and Renewable Energy.”

According to organisers, the engagement seeks to bring together stakeholders from government, academia, development agencies, civil society and the private sector to discuss how Uganda can accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as part of broader efforts to modernise transport and reduce carbon emissions.

Dr Sam Stewart Mutabazi, an urban development and transport policy consultant and executive director of the Uganda Road Sector Support Initiative (URSSI), said the roundtable comes at a critical moment when Uganda is increasingly facing the realities of climate change, rapid urbanisation and rising fuel costs.

“Electric mobility is no longer a future conversation. It is now a necessity for Uganda’s sustainable development agenda.

The transport sector remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and fuel import expenditure, yet Uganda has enormous renewable energy potential that can support a cleaner transport future,” Mutabazi said.

Dr Sam Stewart Mutabazi

He noted that Uganda’s growing investments in hydropower and solar energy position the country favourably to transition towards cleaner mobility solutions.

“The discussion is about more than just vehicles. It is about creating green jobs, reducing dependence on imported fuel, improving air quality in our cities and unlocking new opportunities for innovation and industrialisation,” he added.

The roundtable will explore issues ranging from policy and regulation to charging infrastructure, financing models, consumer awareness and opportunities for local manufacturing within the EV ecosystem.

Roundtable expectations

Organisers say the discussions are expected to generate recommendations that can guide policymakers and investors on the development of sustainable electric mobility systems in Uganda.

The event comes at a time when Uganda has witnessed growing interest in electric mobility, particularly in the motorcycle and public transport sectors.

Eng. Dr Apollo Buregyeya, civil engineer, academic and industrial development advocate, said Uganda’s electric mobility transition should not be approached simply as a transport or environmental agenda but rather as an industrial strategy.

“Electric vehicles are built from minerals, energy systems, manufacturing capability, engineering knowledge, digital technologies, and infrastructure. As a mineral-rich country, Uganda has an opportunity to move beyond exporting raw materials and instead participate in the value chains that power the global green economy,” he said.

Dr Eng Apollo Buregyeya

The real challenge, Buregyeya said, is to organise government, industry, academia, financiers and innovators around a cooperative national strategy that converts the country’s mineral wealth and renewable energy resources into productive industries, skilled jobs and technological capability.

“Electric mobility should therefore be viewed as a pathway to industrialisation, not merely a change in the type of vehicles on our roads,” he added.

In recent years, several companies have introduced electric motorcycles and buses onto Uganda’s roads as the country seeks alternatives to expensive fossil fuel-powered transport.

The government has also signalled support for cleaner transport technologies under its broader climate resilience and industrialisation agenda.

Published reports highlight how Kampala and other urban centres continue to grapple with air pollution, traffic congestion and increasing transport costs, challenges that experts believe can partly be addressed through sustainable mobility solutions.

Mutabazi said that while Uganda’s electric mobility industry is still at an early stage, coordinated national dialogue is essential to ensure the country does not lag behind global trends.

“We need collaborative action involving government, energy providers, transport operators, financial institutions and innovators. If the right policies and investments are put in place, Uganda can become a regional leader in green mobility,” he said.

According to the concept note for the roundtable, expected outcomes include increased stakeholder awareness of electric mobility, stronger partnerships between the transport and energy sectors, policy recommendations to support EV infrastructure, and the identification of opportunities for local innovation and green jobs.

Stakeholders attending the forum are also expected to examine lessons from regional and international markets while identifying practical pathways for Uganda’s transition towards cleaner transport systems.