Union expands beyond transport into e-commerce and digital lending

Union Transport Alliance has expanded beyond its traditional transport operations, entering Uganda’s e-commerce and digital lending space with the launch of Union Online Duuka, a platform  that will  allow customers to shop, sell products and access financing.

The platform  that was  launched yesterday at  Hotel Africana was developed in partnership with RukaPay  with the intention of  to connecting Union customers, retailers and stockists to a wider digital marketplace.

Through Union Online Duuka, customers can purchase products from Union and its stockists, while eligible retailers and other users can list their products for sale. The platform also incorporates Union’s loan products, allowing qualifying customers to use financing to make purchases.

Union Transport Alliance chief executive Fred Ssenoga Bagenda said the move is part of the organisation’s response to changing customer needs and its effort to expand the services available to its network.

“Union Online Duuka is an important milestone in Union’s digital transformation. We are responding to the changing needs of our customers by making it easier to access the products they need at competitive prices, while also providing eligible customers with Union loans,” Bagenda said.

Speaking at the launch, Boda Union Chairman Mawejje Frank said the platform will create more opportunities for boda riders by involving them in the delivery of goods purchased through the platform.
He said the development would help shift riders away from relying solely on waiting at stages for passengers.

“These things of sitting on the stage to wait for consumers to come will be over,” Mawejje said, adding that riders could instead take on more delivery work as demand for online shopping grows.

Additionally the platform will provide access to several Union loan products, including school fees loans, stockist loans and Wetaase loans for customers seeking financial assistance.
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RukaPay chief executive Rowena Turinawe said the partnership could also provide greater visibility into the contribution of the transport sector to Uganda’s economy.

“The transport sector alone contributes the highest tax in Uganda’s economy. But who knows that. We can use this platform to document our wealth,” Turinawe said.

The launch comes at a time when  Union is  seeking to build stronger partnerships around digital services, with Bagenda saying the organisation was now focusing on partnerships.

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