What began as the United Boda-Boda Riders Cooperative Union, a bold national movement to unify and professionalize Uganda’s fragmented informal transport sector has rapidly evolved into a transformative force within the country’s public transport ecosystem.

Building on the proven success of the Boda Boda Co-operative Union model, which has demonstrated that organizing transport workers into a structured, technology-enabled ecosystem can deliver real economic value at scale, the UNION TRANSPORT ALLIANCE was formalized in March 2026.

Simply known as ‘UNION’.

UNION is an integrated, technology-driven mobility platform bringing together boda boda riders, taxi operators, bus fleets, and truck drivers under one unified, coordinated commercial platform designed not merely as an association, but as the largest organized economic vehicle in Uganda.

Anchored in its mission to be leaders in community-powered digital mobility and its vision to transform mobility for sustainable development, UNION represents one of Uganda’s most ambitious efforts to formalize and future-proof the transport sector.

Driving the Shift: E-bike Rollout and Progress

To date, UNION has successfully deployed over 18,000 electric motorcycles across Uganda, marking one of the largest coordinated e-mobility rollouts in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This deployment reflects a deliberate shift from fragmented adoption to scaled electrification, positioning UNION as a key driver of Uganda’s transition toward clean, efficient, and economically viable mobility solutions.

Electric motorcycles currently represent a rapidly growing share of UNION’s operational fleet, signaling a pivotal transition to electrification which is being accelerated through structured financing, ecosystem partnerships, and growing rider preference driven by lower operating costs, improved earnings, and environmental awareness.

4Strategic Partnership with Spiro
UNION’s collaboration with Spiro stands as a cornerstone of its e-mobility strategy—demonstrating how global innovation can be localized for high-impact transformation.

This partnership extends far beyond vehicle deployment. Together, UNION and Spiro have catalyzed the rapid expansion of enabling infrastructure, including:

• Growth of battery swap stations from 104 to over 320 nationwide
• Establishment of 630+ service and support centers
• Creation of over 26,000 jobsacross the mobility value chain

In February 2026, this partnership advanced into a national movement through the launch of the “Zuukuka – Make the Smart Move” campaign—a large-scale clean air and behavior change initiative advocating for the transition from ICE to electric mobility.

Spiro has further committed to deploying 50,000 electric motorcycles in Greater Kampala by June 2026, supported by robust battery-swapping infrastructure. This rollout alone has the potential to eliminate up to 200,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions, significantly advancing Uganda’s climate targets.

Future Targets and Strategic Direction
UNION’s vision extends beyond incremental change toward a complete reimagining of Uganda’s mobility ecosystem.

Key strategic priorities include:

• Mass Electrification:Scaling electric motorcycle adoption nationwide while accelerating the phase-out of ICE fleets in urban centers
• Multi-Segment EV Expansion:Introducing electric taxis, buses, and trucks to create a fully integrated electric transport network
• Infrastructure Scale-Up:Expanding battery-swapping, servicing, and charging ecosystems to support mass adoption
• Economic Empowerment:Unlocking asset financing, increasing operator incomes, and formalizing millions within the transport economy
• Climate Leadership:Contributing significantly to emissions reduction, improved urban air quality, and public health outcomes

Through these initiatives, UNION is not just participating in Uganda’s e-mobility transition—it is actively architecting it.

Closing Perspective
Uganda stands at a pivotal moment where mobility, climate responsibility, and economic growth intersect.

By aligning technology, financing, policy, and grassroots mobilization, UNION is proving that Africa can leapfrog into a cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive mobility future. At UNION, we are not waiting for that future. We are building it.one electric ride, one operator, and one ecosystem at a time.

Baker Kasawuli, General Manager, Union Transport Alliance