FABIO

What FABIO does

FABIO (First African Bicycle Information Organisation) is a Ugandan non-governmental organisation founded in 1994 and registered under the Uganda NGO Registration Act in 2007, headquartered in Jinja. It operates across Uganda's Busoga sub-region with 28 staff and an 11-person leadership and programmes team, structured around three pillars: Livelihood, Environment, and Governance.

Its core product is the AfricroozE electric bicycle, developed in partnership with EURIST and funded by GIZ, with a 30 km/h top speed, 40 km range fully loaded, 120 kg load capacity, and solar-powered charging stations in Jinja and Iganga. Complementary hardware products include the Bicycle Ambulance (e-bikes fitted with trailers and stretchers for patient transport with Village Health Teams) and PWD-Friendly hand-powered three-wheeler tricycles for persons with disabilities. Service programmes include Cycle to School (bicycle donations for learners walking 5-12 km, with 70% allocated to adolescent girls), Self-Help Groups (16 groups across six districts with bicycles and start-up kits), the Teenage Parent Skilling Programme (four-month tailoring plus bicycle maintenance), bicycle rentals (20,000-30,000 UGX/day) and guided tours (60,000 UGX/person) in Jinja, the Car-Free-Day campaign, the Motivation Mobility student exchange with German schools, and governance programmes (SCEPA, SCENE, and the Women-Led Movement for Peaceful Elections) that have reached nearly 10 million people with civic engagement.

FABIO's business model combines institutional grant funding (GIZ, Royal Danish Embassy, US-AID, KfW, All We Can, UNEP, Uganda National NGO Forum) with a small commercial bike-rental and tourism-revenue stream, with a portion of rental income cross-subsidising the Cycle to School programme. Distribution is exclusively community-led, relying on direct mobilisation, grassroots networks, and partnerships with schools, health centres, Village Health Teams, and local government across six districts.

Name

FABIO

Legal name

First African Bicycle Information Organisation

Website

https://fabio.or.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FABIO is a Ugandan non-profit NGO headquartered in Jinja that uses bicycles, e-bikes, and community-led programmes to expand access to education, healthcare, livelihoods, and civic participation for vulnerable communities across the Busoga sub-region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

E-Bike Rentals (THADAGAE), Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ), Cargo Bikes & E-Cargo Bikes Rental/Leasing (TLABAGAB)

Keywords

• Non-motorised transport
• Bicycle mobility programs
• Community development NGO
• E-bike distribution
• Civic engagement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jinja

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bicycle and E-Bike Rentals: Affordable bike rentals to tourists and visitors exploring Jinja and surrounding areas, including mountain bikes and e-bikes at daily rates, plus guided tours. A portion of rental revenue supports FABIO's Cycle to School and community development programs.
2. Donations and Grants: Non-profit funding from institutional donors, international organizations, and individual supporters to fund livelihood, environment, and governance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FABIO is a non-profit NGO that distributes bicycles and e-bikes (including the proprietary AfricroozE e-bike) to vulnerable communities in Uganda's Busoga sub-region and delivers programs that improve access to education, healthcare, livelihoods, and civic participation. Revenue-generating bicycle rentals and guided tours in Jinja cross-subsidize community programs such as Cycle to School, Self-Help Groups, and the Bicycle Ambulance initiative.

Product overview

FABIO operates as a non-motorised transport NGO offering a portfolio of bicycle-based products and programs. The core product is the AfricroozE electric bicycle, complemented by specialized bicycles including Bicycle Ambulances (e-bikes with trailers for patient transport) and PWD-Friendly Hand-Powered Tricycles. FABIO provides service programs including Cycle to School (bicycle donations for students), Self-Help Groups (community saving groups with bicycles), Teenage Parent Skilling (tailoring + bicycle mobility), Bicycle Rentals (mountain bikes and e-bikes for tourism), and Guided Tours. Environment programs include Car-Free-Day campaigns and the Motivation Mobility student exchange. Governance programs include SCEPA, SCENE (civic engagement), and Women-Led Movement for Peaceful Elections. The product ecosystem is unified by using bicycles as a tool for social transformation across livelihood, environment, and governance pillars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AfricroozE: An electric bicycle tailored to African conditions, developed by FABIO in partnership with EURIST and funded by GIZ. Features include 30 km/h speed, 40 km range (fully loaded), and 120 kg load capacity, with solar-powered charging stations.

Products and services

• AfricroozE E-Bike Electric bicycle tailored for African conditions providing clean, fast, and low-effort mobility with 30 km/h speed, 40 km range (fully loaded), and 120 kg load capacity, supported by solar-powered charging stations. Distributed to bicycle boda-bodas, delivery riders, ambulance services, water carriers, and cargo-bike operators.
• Bicycle Ambulance E-bikes fitted with trailers and stretchers designed to carry patients, including unconscious ones, to the nearest health facilities. Operates with Village Health Teams to provide rapid emergency response for expectant mothers and routine health outreach.
• PWD-Friendly Hand-Powered Tricycles Hand-powered three-wheeler bicycles designed for persons with disabilities unable to pedal with their legs, enabling access to schools, health centres, and markets. 70% of recipients report higher household earnings and improved social standing.
• Cycle to School Program Bicycle donation program targeting learners walking 5-12 km to school, addressing low attendance, tardiness, dropout, and teenage pregnancies. 70% of bicycles are received by adolescent girls.
• Self-Help Groups Program Community saving groups provided with bicycles and start-up kits for reliable market access, safe goods transport, water/health-care trips, and collective micro-business funding. 16 groups operate across six districts; savings have risen by approximately 10% since the 2020 launch.
• Teenage Parent Skilling Program Four-month tailoring course followed by six months of practical work for teenage parents, including training in financial literacy, group savings, and basic bicycle maintenance.
• Bicycle Rentals Affordable mountain bike and e-bike rentals offered directly to tourists and visitors exploring Jinja and surrounding areas. Mountain bikes are 20,000 UGX per day and e-bikes are 30,000 UGX per day. A portion of each rental supports FABIO's Cycle-to-School program and community development.
• Guided Bicycle Tours 4-hour immersive guided tours tailored to visitors' interests, visiting Nile's source, Lake Victoria, Railway Museum, riverside coffee stops, vibrant markets, local tracks, and viewpoints. Priced at 60,000 UGX per person.
• Car-Free-Day Campaign Annual campaign in Jinja promoting non-motorised transport under the slogan 'My City, My Responsibility.' Includes fun rides, bike races, street games, tree planting, health-screening camps, and city-wide clean-ups. The 2025 event drew over 1,000 participants and city leaders signed an NMT support charter.
• Motivation Mobility (MoMo) Student Exchange Student exchange program linking Ugandan students from St Noa Mawaggali SSS in Jinja with peers at Sachsenwaldschule and Wentorf Gymnasium near Hamburg, Germany, focusing on sustainability and greener cities, conducted in partnership with EURIST.
• Strengthening Citizens' Engagement and Public Accountability (SCEPA) Partnership program with Uganda National NGO Forum and Royal Danish Embassy to revive active citizenship through community dialogues, producing a Busoga sub-region Citizens' Charter and concrete improvements including road repairs and enhanced public-accounts oversight.
• Strengthening Citizens' Engagement in Elections (SCENE) Project launched in 2019 to reduce electoral apathy through voter education, accountability forums, and radio talk shows. Reached nearly 10 million people, achieving road repairs, recovery of misused funds, and improved waste collection in Iganga, Jinja, and Kamuli districts.
• Women-Led Movement for Peaceful Elections Partnership with Women International Peace Centre training 100 women and youth in conflict prevention, mediation, and peace-building, with 50 election observers and a physical Situation Room for early-warning and rapid-response during electoral cycles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Childbirths by untrained attendants dropped from 6 in 10 to 1 in 10
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EURIST (European Institute for Sustainable Transport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Motivation Mobility (MoMo) student exchange program linking Ugandan and German students, and co-development of the AfricroozE e-bike tailored to African conditions with solar-powered charging infrastructure.
• ITDP Europe (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with FABIO and EURIST to initiate campaign for sustainable transport solutions and catalyze Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) debate for Kampala.
• Uganda National NGO ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Strengthening Citizens' Engagement and Public Accountability (SCEPA) and Strengthening Citizens' Engagement in Elections (SCENE) projects in Busoga sub-region.
• Women International Peace CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women-Led Movement for Peaceful Elections project, training women and youth as peace advocates in Jinja City and District.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership supporting sustainable practices and non-motorised transport advocacy.
• AfrocroozEcoreTechnology or IntegrationE-bike brand developed through FABIO partnership with EURIST and GIZ, featuring solar-powered charging stations in Jinja and Iganga.
• KCCA (Kampala Capital City Authority)minorOthersGovernment partnership for urban mobility planning and NMT corridor initiatives, including German student exchange visits to KCCA offices.
• Jinja District Local GovernmentcoreOthersLocal government partner for Car-Free-Day campaigns, NMT advocacy, and community programs in Jinja. Mayor pledged monthly street-cleaning initiatives.
• DENIVA (Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUgandan NGO network partnership for civic engagement and governance programs.
• FOWODE (Forum for Women in Democratic Development)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for women's empowerment and democratic governance initiatives.
• Girls for ClimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate action initiatives engaging young women and girls.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bikes Not Bombs: Bikes Not Bombs is a non-profit that collects used bicycles in the US and ships them to development programs in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa, while running youth workforce development programs. Comparable to FABIO in using donated bicycles as a tool for education and livelihoods, though primarily US-based in operations.
• Bicycles Against Poverty: UK-registered charity that funds bicycle distribution and vocational training in rural African communities. Closely aligned with FABIO's livelihood-plus-mobility model, especially the Cycle to School and Self-Help Group programs.
• Working Bikes: Chicago-based non-profit that refurbishes donated bicycles and ships them to partners abroad, with a domestic youth training and earn-a-bike program. Comparable to FABIO across the supply, refurbishment, and community training dimensions of a bicycle-focused NGO.
• World Bicycle Relief: World Bicycle Relief is the most direct comparable: a non-profit that designs, funds, and distributes bicycles (including Buffalo Bicycles) for education, healthcare access, and economic development across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Operates a similar donor-funded bicycle-distribution model with measurable livelihood and education outcomes.
• Re~Cycle: Re~Cycle collects second-hand bicycles in the UK and ships them to community projects in Africa, supporting education and livelihoods. Direct operational peer to FABIO in the bicycle-for-development space, though without the rental/tourism revenue layer.
• Bikes for the World: Bikes for the World collects and ships donated bicycles to development partners in developing countries, with explicit focus on education, healthcare access, and economic opportunity. Directly comparable to FABIO's community bicycle distribution model.
• Bambike Foundation: Philippines-based social enterprise that builds bamboo bicycles for sustainable tourism and livelihood programs, operating both a manufacturing arm and a development program. Comparable to FABIO's blend of bicycle-based social programs with a tourism/earned-income layer.
• Pedals for Progress: Pedals for Progress collects and ships donated bicycles and sewing machines to developing-country partners, primarily in Latin America and Africa. Comparable in mission and distribution mechanism to FABIO's bicycle-led livelihood programs.
• Qhubeka: Qhubeka distributed bicycles to schoolchildren and community health workers across South Africa via a similar model combining donor funding, government partnerships, and impact-focused distribution. Most direct African peer to FABIO's Cycle to School and Bicycle Ambulance-style programs.

Broad incumbents

• Tern Bicycles: Tern is a global manufacturer of compact, cargo, and utility bicycles targeting urban commuters and families. Comparable to FABIO's AfricroozE/PWD-friendly product direction (utility, cargo, accessibility-focused bicycles), but operates as a for-profit incumbent rather than an NGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FABIOUGANDA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fabiouganda7806/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/FABIOuganda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fabio
• Instagraminstagram.com/fabiouganda_official
• TikToktiktok.com/@fabioug1?_r=1&_t=ZS-94jrz3CJuJI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FABIO