Kampala to switch to electric taxis before end of 2026

What the report says

Kampala could begin seeing electric taxis on its streets before the end of 2026, according to The Observer, after the Union Transport Alliance (UTA) outlined plans to shift part of the city’s taxi fleet away from petrol-powered vehicles. UTA is an umbrella group representing taxi, bus and truck drivers as well as boda boda riders. The announcement followed a benchmarking trip to China, where delegates examined electric taxi systems and the infrastructure that supports them.

The Observer reported that UTA officials said the first vehicles could be introduced in Uganda before the end of the year, but only if the needed energy network is in place. That includes battery-swapping stations, which union representatives described as essential for keeping taxis on the road without long charging delays. Taxi Union chairman Rashid Sekindi said the visit was meant to test whether Chinese technology could be adapted to Uganda, and he said the model would need adjustments for local conditions.

The proposed rollout also includes a payment approach that could let drivers and owners obtain electric taxis without paying the full cost upfront, instead making smaller repayments over time. Supporters of the plan say wider use of electric vehicles could reduce fuel spending and help with environmental goals. More broadly, the report highlights a challenge facing many African cities: electric mobility depends not only on vehicle supply, but also on financing and public charging or swapping infrastructure.