The exponential growth of e-commerce, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has intensified demand for faster, more efficient delivery solutions. One of the most innovative developments in recent years is using drones for deliveries. Drones can be autonomous, semi-autonomous, or remote-controlled, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The most common types of drones are terrestrial and aerial. However, they can also be aquatic.
Drones are being integrated into delivery services because they are highly efficient, significantly speeding up delivery times and avoiding challenges traditional delivery vehicles may encounter. Given their life-saving potential, use cases for medical supplies, in particular, have become the most widely tested type of drone delivery, with trials and pilot projects in dozens of countries including Uganda.
Drone delivery is applicable beyond healthcare delivery. They are also used in food/grocery, postal, and retail deliveries. Unlike Uganda, the USA, China, Singapore, Pakistan, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, etc., are using these aerial vehicles to make deliveries beyond medical support, offering a tantalizing twinkle in the future where the sky is the new highway.
Although drone deliveries have emerged as a potential alternative, road-based transportation remains the primary delivery method. However, it faces significant challenges, including traffic congestion, environmental & natural impacts, highway thefts, and the costly ‘last-mile’ dilemma—the final and often most expensive delivery stage, hence, delaying deliveries can jeopardize lives that may urgently need humanitarian assistance or critical healthcare supplies such as blood, vaccines, drugs, first aid equipment, medical samples, etc. This is why exploring aerial alternatives is effective
Implementing drone delivery usage in Uganda should be a no-brainer for the government and private companies. Although it requires a significant investment in technology, training, and compliance with aviation regulations, the advantages are undeniable and will make the industry inevitably soar over our cities and towns. It was a success in 2021 when the government through, the Ministry of Health, collaborated with the Academy for Health Innovation, Uganda, and IDI to deliver HIV drugs to people in remote islands using a drone.

The “overcoming geographical barriers with technology” initiative will ease challenges, said Henry Mwebesa, Uganda’s director general of health services, who watched the launch. “Using medical drones is a huge step for us as a health sector in improving service delivery, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” he said.
“It’s very useful. Once it’s successful, we can adopt it for other facilities and replicate it in other places,” he added.
The same would apply to e-commerce firms like Jumia. Once drones are implemented in their service delivery, it would speed up delivery times and avoid challenges traditional delivery vehicles, and cyclists may encounter.
Notably, delivery drones also have multiple applications in the agriculture sector. Uses include monitoring irrigation equipment, soil health, pest control, fertilizer spraying, and livestock harvesting. We have seen this with Jaguza, an agritech startup founded by Ronald Katamba.
Despite its potential, drone delivery faces several challenges, such as regulatory approval from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, license acquisition, piloting skill, adequate infrastructure including training and R&D facilities, limited payload capacity, battery life, range limitations, weather conditions, public acceptance, and security risks, to mention but a few that need to be addressed before widespread adoption can occur.
See also: CAA guidelines on importation and operation of drones in Uganda
If properly regulated and implemented, drone delivery could revolutionize e-commerce and logistics in Uganda, making the sector more efficient and competitive.
For Uganda to fully embrace drone technology, there must be a clear and supportive policy framework. The government should enable a policy that facilitates the commercial use of drones, ensuring safety, and compliance with aviation rules. These guidelines should balance encouraging innovation and addressing potential risks, such as aircraft management, privacy, and security threats. By working closely with the industry stakeholders, regulatory guidelines can create safe and effective drone operations for commercial delivery.
Public-private participation will also play an important role in promoting the adoption of drones. Companies such as Jumia and other e-commerce companies can collaborate with authorities, startups, and technology suppliers for pilot drone delivery programs. These partnerships can help test the viability of drone logistics in different environments. In addition, joint investment in research and infrastructure can ensure that drone technology is evenly integrated into the existing logistics ecosystem in Uganda. Such cooperation can also help to conduct consciousness and public approval of drone delivery.
A gradual adoption strategy is essential to ensure the successful implementation of drone technology. Companies can start with controlled pilot projects, focusing on specific regions or product categories, before expanding their operations nationwide.
Learning from existing models, such as Zipline’s success in using drones for medical deliveries in Rwanda, and Ghana, JD.com Inc. drones capable of delivering packages weighing up to 30kgs, etc., can provide valuable insights to Uganda into operational best practices, regulatory navigation, and cost management. By leveraging these experiences, the government and e-commerce firms can develop scalable drone delivery solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve accessibility, ultimately transforming Uganda’s logistics and e-commerce landscape.