| Company | Globology Ltd |
| Sector | Transportation |
| Country | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Total Project Cost | USD 4.63m |
| PIDG Commitment |
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| Dates of PIDG involvement |
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The Lake Victoria region is home to 40 million people in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Access to transport between Lake Victoria’s various mainland and island communities is limited. To reach mainland services and to transport their produce to market, people are largely reliant upon open wooden canoes with diesel-powered motors. These unscheduled vessels travel only when they reach capacity, are slow and lack shelter, with fish and fresh agricultural produce vulnerable to spoilage. Storms can capsize open canoes which have few, if any, safety measures in place for their passengers.
Established in Kisumu, Kenya, in 2010, Waterbus is operated by Globology Ltd. The company designs, builds, owns and operates safe and affordable ferries for passengers and light cargo, serving isolated mainland and island communities. Waterbus currently operates a fleet of seven modern catamaran vessels. Demand is growing for more ferries to operate additional routes in Kenya and for new routes to be made available in Tanzania and Uganda. In 2022, PIDG invested to scale the Waterbus offering. With our investment, Waterbus has launched three new, 180-seater vessels, currently operating in Kenya and cross-border into Uganda, and will be deploying into Uganda by the end of 2025.
Based on survey data, 40 per cent of Waterbus passengers live below the international poverty line. Access to safe, affordable marine transport is supporting people to build their businesses, sustain social connections, and to access mainland public services.
Waterbus generates 95 per cent fewer hydrocarbons per passenger per hour than the most common outboard diesel engines used by canoe operators. To further reduce fuel consumption and emissions, Waterbus has piloted the use of solar boost technology which it hopes to retrofit to its wider fleet.
Waterbus vessels provide onshore jobs in welding, plumbing, electricals and painting, as well as jobs for vessel crew. With PIDG support, Waterbus is working to attract more women into the sector. PIDG financed Waterbus’ new boatyard in Kisumu, Kenya to improve production speed and quality.
PIDG has supplied technical assistance grant funding for the construction of jetties and landing sites at various locations, this is in line with the health and safety commitment to the passengers Waterbus serves.
PIDG’s investment and support will ensure that Waterbus continues to meet international Health, Safety, Environmental and Social standards and embeds high quality workforce policies, crew qualifications and standards.
By mobilising investment to enable Waterbus to scale its offering, it is anticipated that the company will be well positioned to attract private sector investment and to use internal revenues to scale further in the future.
