Kampala Launches E-Bus Xpress in Push for Smarter Public Transport

The government has officially launched the E-Bus Xpress service in Kampala, marking a new step toward modernising public transport and reducing the city’s heavy reliance on taxis and boda bodas.

The electric bus project is part of broader efforts to ease traffic congestion, improve urban mobility and lower transport-related emissions in the capital. The service will begin operations on major city routes, with fares starting from as low as Shs800. Authorities say the buses are intended to provide commuters with a cleaner, safer and more organised transport option compared to Kampala’s largely informal commuter system.

According to the new fare structure, passengers travelling from City Square to Nakawa or Wandegeya will pay Shs800, while trips to Ntinda and Bukoto will cost Shs1,500. Routes such as Nakawa to Ntinda and Bukoto to Ntinda will also charge Shs800. Officials emphasised that the fares are fixed and will not change because of traffic congestion, weather conditions or passenger demand, unlike the fluctuating prices commonly experienced in the current transport system.

The buses will operate under a fully cashless payment system. MTN users will pay through MoMo using 16522# or Merchant Code 594434, while Airtel Money users will use Code 4405648.

Authorities say the initiative is part of Uganda’s transition toward smart mobility, with the electric buses offering features such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, improved passenger comfort and reduced environmental pollution.

The launch follows a growing regional shift toward structured and technology-driven transport systems, particularly in East Africa, where Rwanda has become a notable example.

Recently, Rwanda introduced major transport reforms in Kigali requiring buses to follow fixed departure schedules similar to airline systems. Under the arrangement, buses must leave terminals on time instead of waiting to fill up, with movements monitored through a central digital control system.

These developments have revived discussion about Uganda’s past struggles to establish an efficient mass transit system despite several previous projects and investments. Earlier initiatives such as Pioneer Easy Bus and Tondeka Metro were introduced to address Kampala’s worsening traffic problems but later collapsed because of financial challenges, management conflicts, weak regulation and poor planning.

For many years, Kampala’s transport system has depended heavily on commuter taxis and boda bodas operating without proper stages, schedules or route control.

Transport experts argue that earlier bus projects failed partly because buses had to compete directly with taxis and motorcycles for passengers in an unregulated road environment.

Unlike Kigali, where dedicated bus lanes and protected transport corridors have gradually been introduced, Kampala continues to face severe congestion and limited transport infrastructure.

Analysts say one of the major obstacles to previous transport reforms has been the lack of dedicated bus lanes. Without priority infrastructure, buses were trapped in the same traffic as other vehicles, reducing efficiency and making them less attractive to commuters.

Officials overseeing the E-Bus Xpress project believe the system can succeed if supported by stronger transport reforms, route protection measures and digital monitoring technology.

The launch also supports Uganda’s wider ambitions in electric mobility, strengthened by the international recognition of the locally manufactured Kayoola E-Coach developed by Kiira Motors Corporation.

In December 2025, the electric coach completed the first phase of the Pearl to Cape Electric Expedition, travelling more than 7,000 kilometres across six African countries before reaching Cape Town. Ugandan leaders praised the journey as proof that locally built electric transport systems can operate effectively across different African terrains and weather conditions.

The expedition also showcased the integration of engineering, digital systems and cashless technology, with MTN Uganda providing telematics, live tracking and mobile money support during the trip.

Government officials now see the E-Bus Xpress service as part of a larger transition toward organised, technology-driven and environmentally friendly urban transport.

However, analysts warn that buses alone may not solve Kampala’s transport crisis unless wider reforms are introduced. These include dedicated bus lanes, regulated stopping points, reduced interference from informal transport operators, stronger enforcement and long-term urban planning.

For many commuters, the future success of the E-Bus Xpress will depend on whether Uganda can move from fragmented transport systems to a fully integrated public transport network similar to those being developed elsewhere in the region.