Peddle Power Rules

China-made bikes popular in Uganda after vehicle ban to curb the spread of COVID-19

- Godfrey Olukya

One of the most unexpected spin-offs of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda has been on the country’s roads. After both public and private transport was banned toward the end of March for all non-essential personnel to help curb the spread of the virus, people looked to other options to get around. One immediate alternative was peddle power. Waves of bicycles are now wheeling their way across the country.

Muzamir Kakande, a bicycle dealer in Uganda’s capital Kampala, unofficially estimates that seven in 10 bikes sold in Uganda are from China.

“Just go out on the streets and see how many China-made bicycles are being ridden,” he said, adding that every three months, he travels to China to buy around 500 bicycles which he brings back to Kampala. He also supplies several other outlets across the country.

More bikes imported

Susan Kataike, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Works and Transport of Uganda, told ChinAfrica that it is not surprising that most of the bicycles in the country are made in China.

“It’s not surprising that most of the bicycles sold in Uganda are from China. Just like most of the goods in the markets in Uganda are from China,” said Kataike, adding that the majority of those who own bicycles from China say they are happy with them.

“When the government banned vehicle transport due to the coronavirus, many people bought bicycles. It was a blessing in disguise as far as making people start using bicycles as a means of transport, as advocated by our president [Yoweri Museveni],” she said.

Uganda’s statistics authority indicated that 32 percent of homesteads in the country own at least one bicycle.