Roadmaster, a leading bicycle manufacturing firm in East Africa plans to double its bicycle exports to Rwanda by the end of this year. The company management says competition from importers of bicycles, bicycle parts coupled with high taxes the Uganda government charges the company has necessitated expansion of its operation in Rwanda. Uganda Revenue Authority charges 100 per cent import duty on the bicycles and its parts. The company’s marketing team has also found Rwanda’s central location in the Great Lakes region a base to supply the growing market in DR Congo and Burundi. The General Manager of Roadmaster said his firm has a capacity of manufacturing 1,000 bicycles daily, therefore can sustain the current demand. “Rwanda is a big market. We set up the plant to cater for Uganda and neighbouring countries, that is why we want our products sold in those markets on regular basis,” Kumar Mitall said. Roadmaster is the only manufacturer of bicycles in East Africa that has a capacity of to produce 30,000 bicycles monthly. The plant has entered into a technical collaboration with Raleigh International, to manufacture and market Raleigh bicycles in East and Southern Africa. Roadmaster enjoys 60 per cent market share in Uganda. Ends
