Source: DW

A national e-mobility plan is providing robust electric bikes and cargo bikes to individuals and communities in Uganda. It is supporting nurses in delivering vaccination programmes and small business owners in expanding their opportunities.

The initiative, which is supported by NGO First African Bicycle Information Organization (FABIO) and AfricroozE, a Germany-based enterprise developing e-bikes tailored to Africa, is aiming to boost access to sustainable transport, thereby significantly broadening people’s horizons.

Aisha Musamba was gifted an e-bike under the initiative, to help with delivery of an immunisation programme. She says: “The bike saves children’s lives, because parents often don’t immunise their children because of the distance involved. With this bike, we can come straight to their homes.”

The e-bike is a significant benefit compared to the traditional bike she used previously, allowing Aisha to travel further and reach more people, while conserving her energy.

The bikes are robustly built, designed to handle challenging terrain, and the charging infrastructure is solar-powered – allowing for reliable charging in areas where electricity supply is problematic.

Other bike users may lease, rent or buy the e-bikes which have been made available under the initiative.

Adam Kigenyi, a juice vendor, has customised the bike to allow him to carry more products and increase his range, enabling him to reach more customers. His previous vehicle had been a manual three-wheeler; with the electric cargo bike, he can visit customers more quickly, and has seen a real life-change thanks to the new vehicle.

The project partners have established a solar-powered service hub in the town of Jinja, with further facilities planned in rural areas, to ensure the ongoing reliability of the bikes.

The full video report on the initiative can be found here.