KIRA — E-Bus Xpress has launched three electric bus routes in Kira Municipality, deploying 15 Kayoola electric buses as Uganda accelerates its shift towards cleaner public transport.
Five buses will operate on each of the three routes: Kisasi–Kyanja–Kungu, Ntinda–Najjera–Nakwero, and Ntinda–Naalya–Namugongo–Seeta.
The service will be free for all passengers from August 28 to September 6, allowing residents to experience the new transport system before fares are introduced.
Adult fares will start at Shs800, while students will pay Shs400. The buses offer cashless payment, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi and other safety features.
The Government of Uganda welcomed the launch, saying the new routes would improve connectivity and provide residents with a more accessible and reliable public transport option.
“E-Bus Xpress is launching new routes in Kira Municipality, easing transportation and improving connectivity for residents across several routes in the municipality,” the government said in a post on X.
E-Bus Xpress described the routes as its new “green belts” and promoted the service under the slogan “Kira Is Electric.”
The launch adds momentum to Uganda’s growing electric-mobility sector, where locally developed electric buses and motorcycles are increasingly being presented as alternatives to conventional vehicles.
It also comes as authorities seek to modernise urban transport and gradually reduce reliance on older, fuel-powered taxis.
The immediate test, however, will come after the free period ends. The success of the buses will depend not only on their technology, but on whether they can offer commuters what public transport ultimately demands: reliable service, affordable fares and predictable journeys.
