The Ministry of Works and Transport has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its headquarters in response to rising uptake of electric vehicles, Minister Veikko Nekundi said on Thursday.

Government employees who wish to use the facility can register at the Office of the Director of Capital Projects at the ministry, Nekundi said.

“This initiative was developed and designed by the ministry’s in-house engineers and is aimed to serve as a study case that will inform possible future deployment of an EV charging network nationwide,” the minister said. “As custodian of government-invested properties, the ministry is suitably positioned to develop an extensive charging-station network nationwide, with a view to catering for a future electric vehicle government fleet and possibly the public at large.”

Some members of parliament raised questions about the installation, seeking clarity on costs, coordination with other ministries and the impact on the national grid.

“Change is important, but it's also very complex. So to what extent are you engaging this subject matter with the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Finance on this issue?” asked Job Amupanda, AR leader in the National Assembly.

AR MP Esther Haikola-Sakaria asked whether charging would be free and if users would be required to pay a fee on registration. “Are they for free, or is there a certain amount of money that the people are expected to bring when they are registering? And also, when you are charging your car, is it free? How much will it be?” she asked.

IPC MP Nelson Kalangula raised concerns about the potential effect on the electricity grid and the cost implications given rising electricity prices.

In response, Nekundi said the charging station will be free of charge during the study period. He added that wider rollout and any future pricing will depend on the study’s results. He also said the station would not unduly affect the grid because it is currently powered by renewable solar energy.