The Ugandan government has announced plans to transition all newly acquired government vehicles to locally manufactured electric vehicles by 2035, in a major policy shift aimed at positioning the country as a regional hub for electric mobility and green industrialization.
Speaking during the National Science Week at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Allan Muhumuza said the government intends to prioritize domestically produced electric vehicles in future public procurement.
“All new government vehicles, made here by the year 2035,” Muhumuza stated while outlining the country’s long-term e-mobility vision.
The announcement signals growing government commitment to science, technology, innovation, and industrial manufacturing as Uganda seeks to reduce dependence on imported fuel-powered vehicles and expand its clean energy economy.
The policy is also expected to support local automotive manufacturing initiatives, including efforts by Ugandan innovators and technology companies developing electric buses, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles.
Government officials say the transition is intended to lower fuel import costs, reduce carbon emissions, strengthen energy efficiency, and stimulate local production and job creation.
Uganda has in recent years increased investment in electric mobility research and innovation through the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat and partnerships with local universities, engineers, and private sector manufacturers.
The move mirrors a growing continental trend toward cleaner transport systems, with several African countries beginning to adopt electric mobility strategies amid rising fuel prices and global climate concerns.
However, analysts note that achieving the 2035 target will require substantial investment in charging infrastructure, power reliability, industrial capacity, financing mechanisms, and supportive regulatory frameworks.
Questions also remain about affordability, battery technology, maintenance systems, and whether Uganda’s electricity infrastructure can sustain large-scale electric vehicle adoption.
Still, proponents argue that Uganda’s relatively high renewable energy potential especially hydroelectric power gives it a strategic advantage in developing a sustainable electric transport ecosystem.
The government has increasingly promoted innovation-led industrialization as part of its broader economic transformation agenda under the Fourth National Development Plan.
