Africa - The "Uhuru": Marrying Freedom and Transport

The "Uhuru" transport vehicle, is a cost-effective, lightweight and extremely sturdy sidecar powered by a retrofitted motorcycle.  It won a $ 123,000 grant at the 2002 Development Marketplace and is now ready to be scaled-up

In many parts of rural Africa, a minor injury or illness can easily be fatal simply for lack of transport to a clinic or hospital.

Most of rural Africa lacks the infrastructure for vehicle maintenance that would ensure lasting and cost-efficient transportation and facilitate a lifeline for needed supplies.

To address the problem of cost-effective transport for patients, drugs and other basic needs, Barry and Andrea Coleman’s Riders program created the Uhuru vehicle.

Swahili for “freedom”, the Uhuru combines a rugged motorcycle with a multi purpose side-car manufactured in Africa using local materials, and serves both as an ambulance and as a community business vehicle at a much smaller cost than typical vehicles.

The vehicle is lightweight and extremely sturdy, powered by a small capacity motorcycle and fitted with off-road tires. Installed equipment includes a 20-litre water/petrol can, a hand winch, large battery, emergency lighting, cargo carrying area, lockable equipment storage locker, and removable stretcher system for ambulance duty and it has rain protection for patients and a towing hitch. 

(l. to r.) Michael Kubzansky of the Development Marketplace, Sanjivi Rajasingham and George Banjo of the Africa Transportation Sector Board, examine the water pump feature of the "Uhuru" motorcycle with sidecar.

"The Transport Sector Board is very excited about this multi-purpose transport vehicle, which truly links transport with development," said Maryvonne Plessis-Fraissard, Director of the Bank's Transport Sector Board.

The vehicles are operated by local cooperatives with support from Riders, ensuring good maintenance practices while earning revenue for financial sustainability of the project.

With it’s multiple functions, the Uhuru is not only a cost effective way of providing transportation for health, educational and other services to rural communities, but it supports income-generating activities, too. Through its ability to pump water, generate electricity, provide lighting, and carry water or freight, the Uhuru is also helping rural people generate income.  

In Zambia, for example, women are able to provide for their families and pay their children’s school fees from the income obtained from the increased yield of their gardens. Because the Uhuru helps carry and pump extra water for these gardens, the additional produce grown is then transported to urban areas for sale; providing extra income to the families.