KIU, Main Campus - Hakim Owiny, a finalist student of Public administration is determined to influence the transformation of Uganda's capital Kampala into a smart city by advocating for safe cycling lanes.

Owiny is currently serving as an e-mobility, advocacy and activation Manager at eBee, a pan-African electronic mobility company that sells and rents electronic bicycles in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

Proof of his determination, Owiny cycled about 650–655 kilometres from Uganda to Nairobi Kenya in six days to create awareness about safe city cycling lanes onto Uganda's road network in 2023.

While in Nairobi, he attended the Africa Climate Summit 2023  and was able to discuss mechanisms for mitigating climate change. He began 2024 with more zeal as he spearheaded the establishment of the  Kampala Cycling Day.

The first edition of the Kampala Cycling took place on Saturday, January 27th 2024 with Hakim and Ebee taking the lead as over 10 cyclists took part.

"We started from the New Vision [Industrial Area] and went via Jinja Road, Lugogo bypass, Kira Road, Wandegeya, Bombo Road, Kampala Road then Jinja Road, Port Bell Road, and back to Vision Group Headquarters in Industrial area," he narrated.

Owiny's main reason behind Kampala Cycling Day is to remind stakeholders and civilians that it is possible to achieve a smart City which is in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 11 (UN-SDG 11).

Sustainable Development Goal 11 is about making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. It intends to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. It is believed that Cities represent the future of global living. 

On the second outing of the Kampala Cycling Day, Owiny's campaign was given a huge boost as KCCA joined Ebee to boost the implementation of the non-motorised transport strategy in Kampala City.

KCCA Engineers who took part in the ride around Kampala declared their commitment to the cause and expressed their readiness to work with Hakim and Ebee to advocate for more cycling lanes in Kampala City.

"I thought introducing Kampala Cycling Day would take my campaign for safe cycling lanes in Uganda to another level as I look to have as many stakeholders on board," he said in an interview after day two's exercise on Friday 15th March 2024.

Besides the safe cycling lanes campaign and advocacy, Owiny Hakim, 37, is a community civic educator and environmental conservation activist. 

"My job is where I derive happiness but also I see it as an opportunity for me to contribute to my community in a transformative way," Owiny disclosed.

In 2019, he set another record, walking to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for two months, covering a distance of 2,421 kilometres (km) to popularize Africa's agenda for 2063. He is also a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow.