HERALDS OF THE ELECTRIC BOAT TRANSITION
A Conversation About Power, Boats, and the Future of Lake Victoria
An Editorial by Kevin D. Rodgers, Founder, The Electric Boat News
In partnership with Liaquat Hussain, Field Research Partner, Uganda
A Conversation About Power, Boats, and the Future of Lake Victoria
October 2025
"We're heralds," I said to Liaquat during our video call last week, the idea crystalizing even more as we talked. "We're announcing that electric boats can work."
He nodded from Kampala, 8,000 miles away. "Yes. That's fine. That's interesting."
It was one of those moments where you suddenly see the shape of what you've been building. We weren't just researching electric boats on Lake Victoria. We weren't just documenting operator interviews. We were doing something more fundamental: We were heralding a transition that most people don't even know is possible.
When we started this research, I made an assumption that almost derailed everything. I assumed the boat operators Liaquat was interviewing owned the boats they operated.
I was wrong.
"So that's not in all cases," Liaquat explained. "Majority of cases until now we have done two only. So in those two cases they are not the owners."
This changed everything.
Here's how it actually works:
THE BOAT OWNERS (typically 3-4 owners per 15-20 boats at a landing site):
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Own multiple boats (maybe 3-5 each)
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Lease boats to operators
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Collect fixed daily fees: 25,000-30,000 UGX ($8-10 USD) per boat, every single day
-
Don't care about fuel costs, maintenance, or how many customers the operator gets
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Make guaranteed income regardless of conditions
THE BOAT OPERATORS (the men Liaquat interviews on the docks):
-
Pay the owner first, every day, no matter what
-
Keep whatever's left after expenses
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Struggle when customer traffic is low
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Told Liaquat: "The business is not so good. Even if they make some money, it goes to the owner."
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Only see good earnings near Christmas and New Year
THE FISHERMEN (a special category):
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Also pay fixed daily fee (25,000 UGX)
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BUT can profit significantly on good catch days
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One fisherman told Liaquat he sometimes makes 100,000 UGX ($30 USD) in a day
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The fixed fee doesn't change even if catch is huge
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When they're lucky, they profit most from the arrangement
"That's amazing," I said when this became clear. Because suddenly the question wasn't just "Would electric boats work?"
The question became: "Who benefits from electric boats, and who controls the transition?"
THE AWARENESS GAP
The two operators Liaquat interviewed had never seen an electric boat. They didn't even know electric boats existed.
"They were asking me that are there electric boats?" Liaquat recounted. "They were asking how efficient is it? Efficient means the speed of the boat, how often they have to repair it."
These are practical questions. Speed questions. Maintenance questions. Money questions.
Not environmental questions.
"Interestingly these two guys, the fisherman and the boat guy whom I interviewed," Liaquat continued, "they even don't know what is carbon monoxide. They even don't know what is the other pollutant basis and volatile compound releasing in atmosphere."
They knew that engine leaks contaminate water. But they didn't connect that contamination to fish kills and aquatic life damage.
This isn't ignorance. This is information absence.
Nobody has told them. Nobody has shown them. Nobody has explained what's possible.
That's our job.
THE ELECTRIC BODA PRECEDENT
But here's what gave me hope: Liaquat told me about electric bodas (motorcycle taxis) in Kampala.
"Three, four years before in Kampala and in Uganda we were only having motorbikes with petrol only," he explained. "But in last two years we have seen the safe boda application online application till and we can easily move on electric bodas."
Electric motorcycle taxis are already working in Uganda.
"Those electric bodas they charge very small money and efficiently working," Liaquat said.
So the transition isn't theoretical. It's already happening on land. The infrastructure, the adoption model, the user acceptance—it's being proven right now with two-wheeled vehicles.
The question is: Can we translate that to water?
WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING
"We want to be a voice sharing the advancement of electric boats in communities that don't know," I told Liaquat, trying to articulate our mission.
The research showed that people who could benefit from electric boats don't really know the possibility. They don't know how it can be.
So our job is to show them examples of how it is working other places.
We're not here to build boats. We're not here to sell wealthy people toys for riding waves.
We're here to show how electric boats can change everyday lives.
"We're heralds," I said. "We're announcing electric boats can work."
Liaquat understood immediately. He's seen this pattern before in his rural development work. Communities need information. They need examples. They need trusted voices explaining what's possible.
And then they need something to touch. Something to test. Something real.
WHY THIS ISN'T DISRUPTIVE (IN A BAD WAY)
I asked Liaquat directly: "Does electric boats disruptive in a bad way or is it disruptive in a good way?"
His answer was reassuring: "I don't think it will bring any disruption."
The electric boda precedent proves it. Petrol motorcycle taxis still exist alongside electric ones. The transition has been smooth, not catastrophic.
"We need to again educate and then again we have to get information from some more to make a representative sample," Liaquat said. "Maybe after some more interviews we will get more idea that how smooth we can do transition from these petrol engine boats to the electric boats."
The social fabric can handle this change.
But only if we do it right. Only if we engage communities. Only if we listen to their concerns and work with their power structures rather than around them.
WHAT "HERALD OF THE CHANGE" MEANS
Being a herald isn't passive. It's not just announcement. It's active participation in transition.
Here's what it means for The Electric Boat News:
1. WE RESEARCH
In offices, libraries, databases, educational institutions, academic journals, we go to the docks, we talk to operators, we document power structures, we to fully understand the innovation ecosystems and units economics.
2. WE EDUCATE
We explain what's possible. We show examples from other places. We translate technical information into practical knowledge. We publish in languages people speak.
3. WE DEMONSTRATE
We don't just write about electric boats. We bring them to communities. We let people test them. We facilitate hands-on learning.
4. WE EMPOWER
We don't impose solutions. We provide information and let communities decide their futures. As I told Liaquat: "The goal is to get the knowledge and the application into their hands and let them make the decisions for their future."
5. WE PARTNER
This is partnership. Local knowledge, language barrier broken, the community connections, the field experience. the platform, academic support, and the publishing infrastructure.
Together we're heralds.
JOIN US
If you're working on electric boat adoption in informal economies anywhere in the world, reach out. We want to share your story, because the transition has begun.
The Electric Boat News | Week of October 9, 2025
electricboatnews.com | Published weekly, always free
THE AWARENESS GAP
The two operators Liaquat interviewed had never seen an electric boat. They didn't even know electric boats existed."They were asking me that are there electric boats?" Liaquat recounted. "They were asking how efficient is it? Efficient means the speed of the boat, how often they have to repair it."These are practical questions. Speed questions. Maintenance questions. Money questions.Not environmental questions."Interestingly these two guys, the fisherman and the boat guy whom I interviewed," Liaquat continued, "they even don't know what is carbon monoxide. They even don't know what is the other pollutant basis and volatile compound releasing in atmosphere."They knew that engine leaks contaminate water. But they didn't connect that contamination to fish kills and aquatic life damage.This isn't ignorance. This is information absence.Nobody has told them. Nobody has shown them. Nobody has explained what's possible.That's our job.
THE ELECTRIC BODA PRECEDENT
But here's what gave me hope: Liaquat told me about electric bodas (motorcycle taxis) in Kampala."Three, four years before in Kampala and in Uganda we were only having motorbikes with petrol only," he explained. "But in last two years we have seen the safe boda application online application till and we can easily move on electric bodas."Electric motorcycle taxis are already working in Uganda."Those electric bodas they charge very small money and efficiently working," Liaquat said.So the transition isn't theoretical. It's already happening on land. The infrastructure, the adoption model, the user acceptance—it's being proven right now with two-wheeled vehicles.The question is: Can we translate that to water?
WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING
"We want to be a voice sharing the advancement of electric boats in communities that don't know," I told Liaquat, trying to articulate our mission.The research showed that people who could benefit from electric boats don't really know the possibility. They don't know how it can be.So our job is to show them examples of how it is working other places.We're not here to build boats. We're not here to sell wealthy people toys for riding waves.We're here to show how electric boats can change everyday lives."We're heralds," I said. "We're announcing electric boats can work."Liaquat understood immediately. He's seen this pattern before in his rural development work. Communities need information. They need examples. They need trusted voices explaining what's possible.And then they need something to touch. Something to test. Something real.
WHY THIS ISN'T DISRUPTIVE (IN A BAD WAY)
I asked Liaquat directly: "Does electric boats disruptive in a bad way or is it disruptive in a good way?"His answer was reassuring: "I don't think it will bring any disruption."The electric boda precedent proves it. Petrol motorcycle taxis still exist alongside electric ones. The transition has been smooth, not catastrophic."We need to again educate and then again we have to get information from some more to make a representative sample," Liaquat said. "Maybe after some more interviews we will get more idea that how smooth we can do transition from these petrol engine boats to the electric boats."The social fabric can handle this change.But only if we do it right. Only if we engage communities. Only if we listen to their concerns and work with their power structures rather than around them.
WHAT "HERALD OF THE CHANGE" MEANS
Being a herald isn't passive. It's not just announcement. It's active participation in transition.Here's what it means for The Electric Boat News:
1. WE RESEARCH
In offices, libraries, databases, educational institutions, academic journals, we go to the docks, we talk to operators, we document power structures, we to fully understand the innovation ecosystems and units economics.
2. WE EDUCATE
We explain what's possible. We show examples from other places. We translate technical information into practical knowledge. We publish in languages people speak.
3. WE DEMONSTRATE
We don't just write about electric boats. We bring them to communities. We let people test them. We facilitate hands-on learning.
4. WE EMPOWER
We don't impose solutions. We provide information and let communities decide their futures. As I told Liaquat: "The goal is to get the knowledge and the application into their hands and let them make the decisions for their future."
5. WE PARTNER
This is partnership. Local knowledge, language barrier broken, the community connections, the field experience. the platform, academic support, and the publishing infrastructure.Together we're heralds.
JOIN US
If you're working on electric boat adoption in informal economies anywhere in the world, reach out. We want to share your story, because the transition has begun.
The Electric Boat News | Week of October 9, 2025electricboatnews.com | Published weekly, always free
THE AWARENESS GAP
The two operators Liaquat interviewed had never seen an electric boat. They didn't even know electric boats existed."They were asking me that are there electric boats?" Liaquat recounted. "They were asking how efficient is it? Efficient means the speed of the boat, how often they have to repair it."These are practical questions. Speed questions. Maintenance questions. Money questions.Not environmental questions."Interestingly these two guys, the fisherman and the boat guy whom I interviewed," Liaquat continued, "they even don't know what is carbon monoxide. They even don't know what is the other pollutant basis and volatile compound releasing in atmosphere."They knew that engine leaks contaminate water. But they didn't connect that contamination to fish kills and aquatic life damage.This isn't ignorance. This is information absence.Nobody has told them. Nobody has shown them. Nobody has explained what's possible.That's our job.
THE ELECTRIC BODA PRECEDENT
But here's what gave me hope: Liaquat told me about electric bodas (motorcycle taxis) in Kampala."Three, four years before in Kampala and in Uganda we were only having motorbikes with petrol only," he explained. "But in last two years we have seen the safe boda application online application till and we can easily move on electric bodas."Electric motorcycle taxis are already working in Uganda."Those electric bodas they charge very small money and efficiently working," Liaquat said.So the transition isn't theoretical. It's already happening on land. The infrastructure, the adoption model, the user acceptance—it's being proven right now with two-wheeled vehicles.The question is: Can we translate that to water?
WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING
"We want to be a voice sharing the advancement of electric boats in communities that don't know," I told Liaquat, trying to articulate our mission.The research showed that people who could benefit from electric boats don't really know the possibility. They don't know how it can be.So our job is to show them examples of how it is working other places.We're not here to build boats. We're not here to sell wealthy people toys for riding waves.We're here to show how electric boats can change everyday lives."We're heralds," I said. "We're announcing electric boats can work."Liaquat understood immediately. He's seen this pattern before in his rural development work. Communities need information. They need examples. They need trusted voices explaining what's possible.And then they need something to touch. Something to test. Something real.
WHY THIS ISN'T DISRUPTIVE (IN A BAD WAY)
I asked Liaquat directly: "Does electric boats disruptive in a bad way or is it disruptive in a good way?"His answer was reassuring: "I don't think it will bring any disruption."The electric boda precedent proves it. Petrol motorcycle taxis still exist alongside electric ones. The transition has been smooth, not catastrophic."We need to again educate and then again we have to get information from some more to make a representative sample," Liaquat said. "Maybe after some more interviews we will get more idea that how smooth we can do transition from these petrol engine boats to the electric boats."The social fabric can handle this change.But only if we do it right. Only if we engage communities. Only if we listen to their concerns and work with their power structures rather than around them.
WHAT "HERALD OF THE CHANGE" MEANS
Being a herald isn't passive. It's not just announcement. It's active participation in transition. Here's what it means for The Electric Boat News:
1. WE RESEARCH
In offices, libraries, databases, educational institutions, academic journals, we go to the docks, we talk to operators, we document power structures, we to fully understand the innovation ecosystems and units economics.
2. WE EDUCATE
We explain what's possible. We show examples from other places. We translate technical information into practical knowledge. We publish in languages people speak.
3. WE DEMONSTRATE
We don't just write about electric boats. We bring them to communities. We let people test them. We facilitate hands-on learning.
4. WE EMPOWER
We don't impose solutions. We provide information and let communities decide their futures. As I told Liaquat: "The goal is to get the knowledge and the application into their hands and let them make the decisions for their future."
5. WE PARTNER
This is partnership. Local knowledge, language barrier broken, the community connections, the field experience. the platform, academic support, and the publishing infrastructure.Together we're heralds.
JOIN US
If you're working on electric boat adoption in informal economies anywhere in the world, reach out. We want to share your story, because the transition has begun.
The Electric Boat News | Week of October 9, 2025
electricboatnews.com | Published weekly, always free