By H. E Ambassador Rosa Malongo, Former UN Envoy

His Excellency Rtd Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda
Honorable members of the Government
Mr. Gagan Gupta CEO of the ATIF group and your distinguished delegation
All protocols observed,
Ladies and gentlemen

Today it is my honor to provide an update on the ongoing efforts by the Tumaini African Knowledge Center which I lead, and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development led by Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo to ensure the successful rollout of SPIRO operations in Uganda as part of the investment plans conveyed by Mr. Gagan Gupta to H.E. the President during their meeting in November 2022.

During that encounter Mr. Gupta pledged to contribute to Uganda’s e-mobility industry by transferring knowledge and technology through the construction of an assembly plant in the country and the rollout of SPIRO products and services.

Mr. Gupta also offered to scale up our national industrialization aspirations by supporting the development of integrated industrial platforms and strategic investment marketing campaigns in support of Uganda. Today we gather to officially celebrate a major milestone in the partnership between SPIRO and the Republic of Uganda by inviting H.E. the President of the Republic, to formally welcome SPIRO to Uganda and launch their investment operation.

Before I invite Mr. Gagan Gupta to address this gathering allow me to share an update on the status of the implementation of this investment:

The Africa Transformation and Industrialization Fund (ATIF) under the leadership of its CEO Mr. Gagan Gupta remains committed to the transfer of technology, job creation and implementing significant investments in Uganda, through two companies, namely, ARISE IIP focused on integrated industrial platforms and SPIRO formerly known as M Auto focused on sustainable energy solutions including e-mobility. SPIRO is Africa’s largest electric vehicle manufacturing company. It is uniquely focused on Africa’s clean industrialization through e-mobility technologies and energy security. In May this year, SPIRO began to receive the first batch of 500 e-bikes in Uganda out of which more than 150 were sold within the first week.

The feedback from boda boda riders has been constructive and enthusiastic. They have opened Uganda’s first electric showroom on Old Port Bell Rd in Kampala and are now ready to start manufacturing electric motorbikes in Uganda as part of their contribution to national efforts to address road safety, environmental pollution, crime and sustainable livelihoods. They also plan to create at least 5,000 direct jobs through their investment.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Uganda is one of the largest importers of motorcycles in East Africa, importing over 600,000 fuel motorcycles. In Kampala, around 150,000 drivers generate their daily income by riding a Boda Boda.

Your Excellency, you have called on Ugandans to embrace e-mobility as an alternative long-term solution to the challenges of escalating fuel prices and as part of national efforts to address the impact of climate change. SPIRO is well positioned to answer this call as their work is deeply rooted in the principles of sustainability, safety and community development.

In this context, allow me to provide a brief update on the implementation of the Framework Agreement signed in March 2023:
During the month of April 2024, the Ministry of Finance issued a letter confirming the effectiveness of the Framework Agreement signed in 2023 by the Ministry of Works and Transport. As a result, by May 2024, URA, PACEID and other government entities were able to support TAKC to ensure the safe arrival in the country of the first batch of SPIRO electric motorbikes, batteries, and swapping stations. It is important to note that SPIRO electric motorbikes include advanced technology that allows them to contribute to reducing road accidents, reducing air pollution and addressing criminality.

SPIRO is ready to share its research and development with Uganda so that future versions of the e-bikes reflect new lessons and respond to new challenges. By providing an affordable and sustainable transportation alternative, SPIRO is playing its part in enhancing citizens’ quality of life and supporting Uganda’s transition to a greener future. On this basis, SPIRO has decided to cancel its request for the Government of Uganda to issue a ban on ICE motorbikes as mentioned in the Framework Agreement. SPIRO is ready to contribute to the emerging e-mobility industry in Uganda and compete in the marketplace alongside other actors.
Regarding affordability, SPIRO is delighted to note that it has signed agreements with MOGO and other financing institutions which has made access to its products easier for the public by offering payment plans to boda riders. This follows a recommendation from the Ministry of Works during consultations organized by PACEID and TAKC. As a result, since the arrival of the first SPIRO E-bikes to Uganda in May this year, the waitlist has grown daily and an average of 50 e-bikes are now being paid for every week. During the first week as many as 150 e-bikes were purchased by ordinary Ugandans.
Regarding access to charging, SPIRO has a variety of charging solutions that include fully automated charging/swapping stations such as the one at the showroom, a second edition of fast charging stations to be used in offices and a third edition of mobile charging units that can be used at home, especially in rural areas are on their way. Regarding design and efficiency, the current design of SPIRO e-bikes allows riders to carry up to 270Kgs of load and the technology allows for the regulation of speed to conform to nationally designated speed zones.

In addition, SPIRO e-bikes have a robust GPS tracking capacity that allows for units to be identified in case of accident or crime. Each unit is equipped with a specific identification number that controls access to batteries and informs its ability to operate. SPIRO e-bikes also include tubeless tires that are easier to maintain for longer periods of time. In addition, battery swap stations are designed to be user-friendly and efficient, promoting savings and convenience. All maintenance services and spare parts are available at the SPIRO showroom where staff receive regular feedback from riders which goes into Research and Development that leads to immediate advances in design and technology. At present SPIRO designs are updated every couple of months.

Regarding access to affordable energy, SPIRO has been in consultations with Uganda’s Electricity Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Energy, and KCCA among others to contribute to government efforts to ensure access to affordable energy at charging/swapping stations across Kampala and later across the country. SPIRO has shared a good practice from Kenya that allows for people using electricity for electric vehicles to be charged less. We look forward to being briefed on Uganda’s solution to ensuring that riders can charge their EVs at reduced electricity rates of USD 5 cents as part of the e-mobility national policy framework that is being developed.

Your Excellency, Ladies and gentlemen, as mentioned SPIRO is ready to begin construction of its first assembly plant in East Africa, right here in Uganda. Following consultations with several Government entities, we are grateful that land has been identified with National Housing that is suitable for the e-bike and batteries assembly plant. We look forward to the presidential directive to National Housing in this regard and wish to convey our appreciation to NEMA, who have confirmed their willingness to support with the layout of the assembly plant once the Government of Uganda allocates land.

Your Excellency before I conclude, allow me to note that during the first quarter of 2024 and second half of 2023, TAKC engaged systematically with relevant stakeholders to resolve bottlenecks including the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Office of the Attorney General, the Uganda Revenue Authority, the Uganda Investment Authority, the National Housing Construction Company, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Kampala Capital City Authority, Operation Wealth Creation, your Office as well as the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, among others.

These engagements served to help ensure cabinet discussed and adopted the tax related incentives and helped us find solutions to emerging challenges. However, despite these efforts, we have noted with concern the need to ensure that incentives extended to ensure the establishment of an assembly plant by SPIRO are maintained and streamlined.

I would like to use this opportunity to highlight the following challenges for your kind consideration:
a) exemption of import taxes and excise duties on imported electric vehicles (CBU, SKD, and CKD) for a maximum of 18 months (from the effective date of the contract until the commercial date of the bikes from the local plant);

b) VAT exemption on imported electric vehicles (CBU, SKD, and CKD) for a maximum of 18 months (from the effective date of the contract until the commercial date of the bikes from the local plant);
c) exemption of taxes and customs duty on the importation of raw and immediate materials for assembling of electric motorcycles, batteries, and spares from the commissioning of the plant;

In addition, we remain with challenges in accessing electricity at 5 cents at the swapping stations as mentioned in the Framework Agreement. We are also waiting on KCCA to help streamline the trading license for SPIRO swapping stations across the city and integrate them into the license extended for the showroom.

Your Excellency, your support in solving these bottlenecks will help fast-track SPIRO’s investment in electric vehicle manufacturing, rollout, and charging infrastructure.
Allow me to convey my heartfelt appreciation to Almighty God in addition to, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Attorney General and Solicitor General of the Republic, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, the URA Tax Commissioner, Dr. Christine Mwebesa at State House, Ms. Rose Birungi a TAKC Board member, and my staff who endured all sorts of pressures, as well as to PACEID for your support in getting us this far.

We overcame severe challenges and thanks to our collective efforts, on 17 May 2024, the SPIRO EV Showroom, Uganda’s first opened its doors officially along Old Port Bell Road. Customers have been experiencing the latest SPIRO motorbikes and witnessing the functionality of Uganda’s very first Automated Smart Swap Station. As we formerly launched this investment today, SPIRO has established 22 brick-and-mortar battery swap stations across Kampala in addition to the automated swapping station at the showroom and has also begun the rollout of its services in Mbarara city.

We invite you Your Excellency to visit their showroom and our TAKC premises at your earliest convenience.

Your Excellency Ladies and Gentlemen, we will now watch a three-minute video highlighting the feedback from ordinary Ugandans on the SPIRO e-bikes. We will then hear from CEO Mr. Gagan Gupta after which we look forward to hearing from H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, and having him officially launch SPIRO in Uganda.

Let me end with a quote from former President of Mozambique late Samora Machel: “International solidarity is not an act of charity: It is an act of unity between allies fighting on different terrains toward the same objective. The foremost of these objectives is to aid the development of humanity to the highest level possible.”
On this note, I wish to convey my thanks to everyone for your attention and thank you Mr. Gagan for trusting TAKC as your business facilitator of choice