Officials unveiling the partnership in Namanve on Thursday.
Kampala, Uganda – [02/ 07/ 2026] – Airtel has today partnered with SPIRO, Africa’s leading electric mobility Solution provider, to adopt electric motorcycles into its distribution network, a move aimed at improving productivity, lowering operating costs for Franchise Partners and removing fumes from the last-mile delivery of Airtel products and services across Uganda.
The partnership gives interested Airtel Franchise Partners an opportunity to own brand-new ‘Spiro electric motorcycles through an affordable, interest-free repayment model facilitated by Airtel, through monthly instalment commission deductions, over a period of 24 months.
The initiative kicks off with the flag off, of the first 268 Spiro motorcycles, from the over 1,000 orders from Airtel Uganda. This programme will eventually be rolled out to all Airtel Franchise Partners across the country in phases. Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited, Japhet Aritho, said the partnership reflects Airtel’s continued commitment to responsible business partnerships that reduce emissions in our environment.
“As Airtel continues to grow, so does our responsibility to ensure that our products and services reach customers faster, more efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner. Our Franchise Partners are the backbone of our distribution network, and today we are investing in them. By making electric motorcycles more accessible, we are helping our partners become more productive, reduce their operating costs, and together protecting our planet.” Franchise Partners play a critical role in Airtel’s distribution ecosystem by delivering SIM cards, distributing Airtel Money float and ensuring customers across Uganda can conveniently access Airtel products and services. Through this partnership, they will benefit from lower operating costs, GPS-enabled motorcycles, reliable after-sales support, and SPIRO’s expanding battery swap network, allowing them to spend more time serving customers and growing their businesses.
The Country Director Spiro Uganda, Brenden Kachenje noted that electric mobility is emerging as a powerful tool in the corporate agenda, and commended Airtel for the bold move to adopt and incorporate electric vehicles in their daily operations ” This partnership confirms Spiro’s commitment to champion a greener, cleaner environment and lead the country’s e-mobility agenda. To this, Spiro Uganda is committed to deploy 50,000 electric bikes by December 2026.”
The partnership also supports Airtel Uganda’s broader sustainability ambitions by promoting cleaner mobility solutions while improving business efficiency.
”We stand for innovation. Our products are very innovative. Sustainability is where we operate. Sustainability is on top of Airtel’s agenda,” added Kachenje.
He said the bikes are efficient, affordable and available.
”Affordability is key. That way, we are empowering communities financially (inclusion,” said Kachenje. He told Airtel Uganda officials that ”your distributors will keep more money than they were giving out.”
He allayed fears of the bikes breaking down along the way saying that Spiro has a 24 hour call centre.
”Our team will be there in 20-30 minutes and will either fix the bike outrightly or get you to the nearest service centre.”
He commended Airtel Uganda for believing in Spiro in a bid to ”continue in this area of mobility.”
By replacing fuel-powered motorcycles with electric alternatives, the initiative is expected to reduce operating expenses for Franchise Partners while contributing to lower carbon emissions.
The launch marks another milestone in Airtel Uganda’s ongoing efforts to modernize its distribution network and empower the entrepreneurs who play a vital role in connecting millions of Ugandans to digital and financial services.
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