One of the Spiro mega solar hubs; Bukoto solar hub
Spiro Uganda plans to triple the number of its mega battery-swapping hubs by December 2026 as demand for electric motorcycles grows and the government moves to establish regulations for electric vehicle infrastructure.
The company says the expansion will strengthen its battery-swapping network while improving access to maintenance services and spare parts for riders adopting electric two-wheelers.
Bruce Mucunguzi, the Deputy Country Director of Spiro Uganda, said the company was integrating solar- and grid-powered mega-swapping hubs into its network. Each hub has the capacity to charge a minimum of 200 batteries at the same time.
Mr Mucunguzi was speaking at the recently concluded Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2026 at Kampala Serena Hotel. The conference, held under the theme “From Systems to Scale”, was organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the National Renewable Energy Platform.
He said the company’s expansion would be accompanied by greater attention to safe riding and practical after-sales support, including maintenance and the availability of spare parts.
As Uganda’s electric motorcycle market expands, Mr Mucunguzi attributed the strong uptake of Spiro’s electric two-wheelers to business models designed to address barriers to customer demand and satisfaction.
Spiro Uganda has so far established four mega battery-swapping hubs in Mukono, Soroti, Jinja and Bukoto in Kampala. The company plans to increase the number to 11 by December 2026.
The hubs will support Spiro’s wider network of more than 360 battery-swapping stations across the country. Through the network, riders can exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones, reducing the time required to recharge electric motorcycles and making the vehicles more convenient for daily commercial use.
Government push
Mr Allan Muhumuza, the team leader of the Mobility Bureau at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said government policies were attracting more players into Uganda’s electric mobility sector.
He said the country’s installed electric vehicle production capacity had grown to 79,000 units a year in 2025, while 25,000 electric vehicles, mainly two-wheelers, were manufactured locally during the year.
Mr Muhumuza added that electric vehicles were becoming cheaper and were expected to soon cost less than petrol and diesel vehicles. Lower purchase and operating costs, he said, could accelerate the transition to electric mobility and encourage more consumers and businesses to adopt the technology.
Eng Derick Birimumaso, a senior official at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said Uganda needed to move beyond pilot projects and establish clear standards and regulations for electric vehicle infrastructure.
He identified the safety of vehicles, users and batteries, access to charging facilities and the security of users as key priorities for the emerging sector.
The regulations being drafted, he said, would also cover energy metering, tariffs, billing and licensing. The framework is expected to guide the development and operation of battery-swapping stations, charging facilities and other infrastructure needed to support the growth of electric vehicles in Uganda.
The planned rules come as companies expand their operations and more riders turn to electric motorcycles as an alternative to petrol-powered vehicles. For operators, the growth of battery-swapping infrastructure is expected to improve reliability, reduce downtime and address concerns over charging access.About The Author
