Charging Ahead: Gilbert Wavamuno Talks EVs, Tech, and the Next Five Years of Uganda’s Automotive Sector Spear Motors Managing Director Gilbert Wavamuno says the toughest barrier to rolling out EVs in Uganda is taxes, which have made EV imports too expensive. He argues that just like other countries offer rebates or waive taxes in the early years, government here could help to invest confidently in charging and servicing infrastructure.

Imagine Kampala’s traffic 10 years from now: sleek electric SUVs gliding past solar-powered charging hubs, heavy-duty trucks running silently on clean energy, and AI-enabled dashboards guiding drivers through congestion-free routes. Uganda’s automotive sector is edging toward that vision, driven by global megatrends –  electrification, automation, and sustainable mobility. The journey, however, starts from a complex present, with 80% of the over 2.3 million registered vehicles contributing the largest share of urban air pollution, which the National Environmental Management Authority estimates at nearly 60%. At the center of this transformation is a mix of stakeholders, but nearest to the long stretch…