The World Bank has challenged Uganda to utilise the opportunities of high demand for electric vehicle manufacturing on the world market to construct a well-developed and efficient integrated transport infrastructure and service system that is able to contain climate change challenges. 

The global transition to low-carbon energy calls for technological advancement in the manufacturing industry to transform the landscape for a country's potential to use natural resources to contribute to economic development. 

Uganda’s challenge in the electrification of transport and decarbonisation of industrial processes and clean energy technologies calls for sustainable efforts to reduce noise and air pollution in towns and cities. 

“The market size for electrical vehicles globally is expected to rise to $7 trillion between now and 2030 and could reach $46 trillion by 2050,” World Bank country manager, Mukami Kariuki said in her speech read by senior transport specialist Ivan Mwondha.

Senior transport specialist Ivan Mwondha speaking during the third annual integrated transport infrastructure and services (ITIS) programme review workshop at Speke Resort Munyonyo. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

Speaking on Wednesday, November 15, at the third annual integrated transport infrastructure and services (ITIS) programme review workshop at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Kariuki said that a well-developed and efficient integrated transport infrastructure contributes to the economic and social transformation of any society. 

Although no country is immune to the climate change crisis, developing countries like Uganda face disproportionately severe risks from climate change for a host of reasons including their geographical locations in some instances. 

“Uganda is endowed with rich mineral resources and this can help the country play a crucial role in the global energy transition towards electrical vehicle manufacturing,” Kariuki added. 

Kiira Motors Corporation is Africa's first electric vehicle-making plant that was launched on November 24, 2011, owned by the government of Uganda. 

Sustainable export demand if well supplied can potentially contribute to economic growth in Uganda and Africa at large where many countries are rich in energy transition mineral resources such as platinum, lithium, cobalt, copper and graphite. 

The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that developing countries need $70bn per year for adaptation and this figure is expected to double by 2030, Kariuki warned. 

In 1992, when nations adopted the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the first international agreement to address climate change, they included the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities. 

This principle recognises that developing nations which have likely contributed more to the accumulation of greenhouse gases because they industrialised earlier, should play a critical role in solving the climate crisis by helping the countries that contributed less to it. 

Uganda has constructed non-motorised transport (NMT) in Kampala city with the installation of 50 bicycle racks along the 2km corridor on Namirembe Road to reduce noise and air pollution. 

“NMT infrastructure was constructed along the 150km of town roads constructed by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA),” she said. 

50-year expressway masterplan 

The Minister of State for Works and Transport, Musa Ecweru, said that Uganda has already approved a fifty-year expressway construction masterplan in all the regions of Uganda. 

In a bid to reduce traffic jams, noise pollution and air pollution, the whole country shall be served with expressways to reduce congestion and overload of highway roads on top of investing heavily in electric vehicle manufacturing. 

“These roads shall have limited access but the aim of creation is to serve all the 10 cities that were created to cause regional balance to ease transport in Uganda.