Yahoo TV

Tuk tuks are not a rare sight across many African countries but one new fleet of the three-wheeled vehicles, silently making its way onto the streets of the Ugandan capital Kampala, is different.

Kenya-based firm Sokowatch is deploying electric tuk tuks to deliver goods to small retailers, in what is claimed as a first for the continent.

It's a move that could provide a welcome option in cities across the region grappling with growing air pollution from gridlocked highways.

But for Sokowatch, it's also about slashing maintenance costs.

Mary Majorine Nankyinga is a mechanical engineer who manages the fleet.

"Now we are connecting the battery. It has to fix tight. In this case we are supposed to see a display when we turn on. Here is our display, the battery life is at 100 percent."

Chief executive Daniel Yu describes electric vehicles as the future of mobility across Africa.

Admittedly, Sokowatch currently has just eight electric tuk tuks in Uganda compared to 178 that are gasoline powered but the company is looking to deploy an additional eight in Rwanda before rolling out the vehicles to Kenya and Tanzania, and Yu says they're looking to expand into West Africa next year.