District Commercial Officers Receive Motorcycles
Minister of State for Co-operatives Hon. Fredrick Gume Ngobi hands over motorcycles to be distributed to District commercial officers
To improve commercial services at the grassroots, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Co-operatives will distribute 141 motorcycles among District Commercial Officers (DCOs) across the country.
The motorcycles will be used to:
◦ Undertake Cooperative Mobilisation, Supervision, Education, and Extension Services
◦ Provide Trade Information, including market intelligence
◦ Conduct market research to identify new opportunities for industrial development, business expansion, and diversification
◦ Promote innovation, thereby encouraging businesses to develop and adopt innovative practices and technologies to improve efficiency and competitiveness
◦ Build capacity through providing training programmes to enhance the skills and knowledge of cooperative members.
The Minister of State for Cooperatives, Hon. Fredrick Gume Ngobi, officiated at the launch on August 29, 2025, and advised the commercial officers to use the motorcycles prudently.
They will monitor the PDM activities, Emyooga, cooperatives, and other government programmes. The Uganda Government has increased funding to commercial officers from UGX 2.2bn in 2020 to UGX 8.87bn this financial year.
Each Local Government receives UGX 40m each financial year, with 7 per cent of this amount allocated for motorcycle maintenance, the Minister confirmed.
Tororo District CAO and Chairperson of the Chief Administrative Officers of Uganda, Atama Gabriel, received motorcycles at a function officiated by Deogratius Masagazi, the Under Secretary at the Ministry, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Co-operatives.
He stated that the ministry will distribute 141 motorcycles; 41 on-road motorcycles and 100 off-road motorcycles; the cities and municipal councils will receive the smaller bikes, while the 100 off-road motorcycles will be allocated to the districts.
The Head of the Simba Automotive Assembly Plant, Steven Kamuwada, assured the ministry officials that the motorcycles supplied were duly tested and roadworthy; “The bikes are high-spec with a long-life span, ensuring durability and reliability.”
