Pioneering e-mobility
in Uganda
Zembo is a Battery as a Service company powering commercial motorcycle taxis in Uganda with the best service and value on the market. We partner with vehicle OEMs and asset financers to get riders on the road and support them for the full lifecycle of the vehicle.
We build, finance, and operate Africa’s first locally built end-to-end electric mobility ecosystem for commercial 2-wheel riders.
About Zembo
Zembo is one of Africa’s pioneering e-mobility companies, empowering commercial drivers—such as motorbike taxi and delivery riders—with affordable electric motorbikes and efficient battery swap stations. Designed, built, and assembled locally, our products are tailored to meet the specific needs of riders, while supporting economies through job creation and innovation.
At Zembo, we make it easy for riders to earn. After years of working with and learning from our clients, we’ve developed solutions that cut fuel and maintenance costs, leading to increased disposable income and improved livelihoods.
All this is achieved with the environment in mind. Powered by renewable energy, our batteries contribute to a cleaner future. Zembo is driving Uganda's e-mobility transformation—creating opportunities, fostering economic growth, and building a
Our Mission
To power Uganda's commercial riders with a seamless battery as a service platform.
Our Vision
50 million battery swaps p.a., eliminating 3M MT of CO₂ emissions and saving drivers $100M in fuel and maintenance costs.
Our Team
Over 70 Years combined experience
James Obarowski
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Dreher
Co-Founder & CTO
Robert Jeeves
Vice President, Technical Operations
Etienne Saint-Sernin
Co-Founder
We have created a robust foundation for scaling
With proven R&D, in-house technology, and expanding infrastructure, we are scaling fast to electrify mobility across Africa.
Implementation
2017-2020
2021-2023
2024
2025
2026
Pilot Phase
Product Launch
Scale up
Scale up
R&D of v1.0
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Motorcycles and batteries
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Successful testing and deployment of v1.0 motorcyles and batteries
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opened > 10 swapping stations
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Successful R&D of v2.0 motorcycle and batteries
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Developed in-house software for data and battery swapping management
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Increased to 30 battery swapping stations.
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Raised €3.25m from InfraCo Africa, DOB Equity and Mobility 54
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Partnership with Simba Automotive - launch the "Zembo Thunder"
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V2 battery launch with 75kms range
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660 active riders on the road
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Secured €3.2m Pre-Series A
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Expand to 40+ swapping stations
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V3 battery launch - 85kms
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>1000 active riders on the road
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Launch proprietary automated swapping cabinets
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Franchise model launched for scalable reach
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Greenwheels/Uber launch
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Go-live with multi-OEM bike offering
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Deepening platform in Uganda
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Growing to 50,000 active riders over the next 5 years
Resources
Take a tour of what we've been up to recently
Zembo's inception from our Co-Founder Daniel Dreher
