FROM PILOT TO SCALE: SPIRO BOOSTS UGANDA’S E-MOBILITY WITH NEW MEGA HUBS

Electric motorcycle company Spiro Uganda has announced plans to set up seven more mega battery-swapping hubs by December 2026, bringing its total to 11 as demand for electric two-wheelers rises. The company currently operates four mega hubs in Mukono, Soroti, Jinja, and Bukoto (Kampala). According to Spiro, these hubs support a network of more than 360 battery-swapping stations across the country, where riders exchange depleted batteries for charged ones. Bruce Mucunguzi, Spiro’s deputy country director, stated that the company is integrating solar- and grid-powered mega swapping hubs into its network, with each hub capable of charging at least 200 batteries simultaneously. Mucunguzi emphasized that expanding the swapping network and supporting riders with maintenance and spare parts are critical to meeting demand. He attributed the rapid uptake of Spiro’s motorcycles to safe riding initiatives, robust after-sales support, and business models that directly eliminate barriers to customer demand and satisfaction. Since launching operations on June 1, 2024, Spiro has established a dominant, market-defining position in Uganda's rapidly growing electric motorcycle sector. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported Uganda's entire electric two-wheeler market across all brands stood at just over 30,000 registered units by the end of last year. Spiro accounts for the vast majority of active units, comfortably outcompeting rivals like Gogo and Zembo Projections indicate Spiro captures between 25% to 42% of all new motorcycle sales (electric and petrol-powered combined) in Uganda, driven heavily by aggressive lease-to-own models. Allan Muhumuza, team leader of the Mobility Bureau at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, noted that supportive government policies are successfully attracting more players into the sector. Muhumuza revealed that installed electric vehicle (EV) production capacity grew to 79,000 units per year in 2025, with 25,000 electric vehicles—primarily two-wheelers—already manufactured locally. Eng. Derick Birimumaso, a senior official at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has called for the urgent development of standards and regulations for EV infrastructure. Birimumaso highlighted vehicle safety, battery standards, accessible charging, and user security as immediate priorities. The regulations currently being drafted will also cover energy metering, tariffs, billing, and licensing to ensure a structured framework for the expanding industry.