By Susan Akidi
President Museveni has urged Ugandans to shift to electric cars as the country joins global powers to contain a looming recession amid climate change concerns world over.
According to the president, Uganda needs Shs20billion to develop more affordable electric auto motives.
Electric mobility also known as E-mobility is the use of electricity to power the transport infrastructure as an alternative to fossil fuels which would also be cheaper.
Electric mobility encompasses all the different types of vehicles: cars, motorcycles, bicycles, 2- and 3-wheelers, buses, boats, and electrified rail. It is preferable that this electricity is from renewable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind and solar to minimise overall emissions produced by the transport sector in cities across the globe every year, as well as curbing air and noise pollution.
However, while Ugandans are largely interested in the government’s efforts in electric mobility, they also wish the government addresses issues concerning; interventions with regards to electric vehicle registration challenges, incentives for local manufacturers, developments around charging infrastructure, concerns on the state of batteries of second hand EV imports, in-country purchasing costs of EVs, charging time for EVs, existence of battery swap stations and many more.
East African Countries like Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania have already adopted this move. The question still remain while the government is getting ready for the shift are Ugandans especially those in the transport sector ready, what of availability of Power supply in most rural parts of the country??
