SENIOR CABINET MINISTERS SPEAK-OUT ON THE NEW STELLAR KAYOOLA ELECTRIC BUS

By Moses Sserwanga

 Senior cabinet ministers have noted that Uganda is now ready to offer viable green mobility transport solutions to solve the growing problem of congestion in Kampala city and other urban centers following the successful market validation of Kiira Motors’s new stellar Kayoola electric bus.

 Speaking at the 6th Engineers forum at hotel African on December 5th, 2019, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye , said that Kiira Motors Corporation Ltd- has gained the requisite capabilities and technological know how to produce at least two electric buses a month . “Government ministries, departments and agencies should consider buying these buses from Kiira Motors because they have the capacity to supply,” Dr. Tumwesigye who was flanked by the Minister of Works and Transport, Engineer Monica Azuba Ntege and Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Matia Kasaija , stated .

The new glamorous Kayoola electric bus which can carry 90 passengers was showcased at the  two day Engineers forum held under the theme ;” The Engineer in the 4th Industrial Revolution”. The bus the first of its kind in Africa was built using Kiira Motors developed green mobility technology and made a successful maiden trip from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, (UPDF) ‘s Luwero Industries in Nakasongola to Kampala city in just under two hours covering a distance of 150 kilometers . 

 The Works and Transport Minister , Engineer Monica Azuba Ntege was among many excited Ugandans to take a test drive in the Kayoola electric bus -one of many innovations that have been unveiled by Uganda’s flagship for the nascent automotive Industry –Kiira Motors . Eng. Monica Azuba stated , "Kayoola EVS is very comfortable and drives smoothly and the finishes are good and up to standard. We now need the necessary infrastructure including bus lanes . Kampala Capital City Authority should put in place the BRT infrastructure to decongest Kampala now that we have the capacity to make buses here in Uganda- which can also be utilized at the airport.”

 Finance Minister Kasaija implored the engineers at Kiira Motors to innovate more and called on Ugandans to embrace home grown technologies and support the commercialization of Ugandan innovations with KMC taking the lead. 

 What the experts say

 Automotive Industry experts have since noted that there is no need to import buses from India when the country has demonstrable capabilities to deploy home grown transport solutions for urban centers .

 Eng. Dr. Sagala Paul Neil Sekikubo, while delivering a paper titled the 4th Industrial Revolution : Transport Sector Implications For Uganda ,deplored the pathetic transport conditions in Kampala city where people drive single occupancy vehicles to their workplace thus congesting and polluting the city with obsolete technology . In a lively session chaired by Engineer Dr. Isaac Mutenyo , Dr. Sagala urged the Ministry of Transport , KCCA and all other sector players to consider and apply the green mobility model that is being championed by Kiira Motors. “Kiira Motors have the technology , they have demonstrated capabilities to deliver buses both electric and combustion engines .Government and the private sector can come in to buy and deploy these buses with green mobility technologies. Let all the stakeholders support this initiative to have home grown solutions for our domestic challenges ,”he stated .

 The Kayoola EVS has a range of 300km on a single charge. The bus is also fitted with state-of-the-art infortainment as well other features like USB Ports and onboard Wifi.

 Kiira Motors Corporation is a domestic automotive industry value chain initiative to enhance automotive local content participation and technology transfer. The CEO , Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi said the company has plans to facilitate multi-sectoral and lateral linkages in the automotive industry with adjacent industries including; energy (solar) for mobility, interior upholstery from locally available cotton and leather, Silica used to manufacture sheet glass and iron ore for automotive steel.

 Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye emphasized government role in providing policy guidance and oversight during the establishment of a sustainable domestic automotive industry value chain.

 “The Ministry has embarked on a process of developing a comprehensive Automotive Industry Policy that will stimulate and promote automotive engineering, auto parts and components manufacturing and vehicle production in Uganda. Through technology transfer with strategic global automotive industry players an enabling environment to attract investment in the automotive value chain, we envision the establishment of an internationally competitive automotive industry through standardization and regulation,” he emphasized .

What is being done

 In conformity with global green mobility solutions standards, Kiira Motors Corporation is further undertaking a 12 months study on rolling out electric buses in urban centers in Sub-Saharan Africa with the Kayoola EVS. The study is aimed at the validation of market requirements and the development of strategic value chain partners for the Kiira Vehicle Plant which is under construction at the Jinja Industrial and business Park .

 The writer is a Media , Communications Consultant and

Advocate of The High Court of Uganda .

msserwanga@gmail.com

UGANDA’S FINANCE MINISTER KASAIJA HAILS KIIRA MOTORS-SAYS COUNTRY SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE 4th INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

By Moses Ssserwanga

Uganda’s Finance Minister , Mr. Matia Kasaija has underscored  the importance of  technological innovations  as the country prepares for the 4th industrial revolution .

" A country that doesn't innovate as we head into the 4th industrial revolution is a dead one. Uganda should keep pace with the rest of the world in the field of science , technology and  innovation to create jobs and improve our general wellbeing ," Kasaija said .

The minister made the remarks while on a fact finding visit  to the Kiira Motors Vehicle Plant that is under construction at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park. “With digitalization, artificial intelligence and development of electric vehicles, Uganda must keep as close as possible to the rest of the world. New technologies are emerging everyday and as a country we should be prepared not to be left behind, ” the Minister stated .

While appreciating the management and stuff of Kiira Motors for their innovations to champion green mobility technologies as a solution to Uganda’s urban transportation needs, Kasaija said that it was the NRM government’s ideology to have Ugandans at the center  of the country’s economic development .

“The economy should be in the hands of Ugandans and everything is being done to develop capacity of local contractors to take on and deliver quality works on some of the country’s infrastructure development projects” , he said. The Minister said local companies with demonstrable capacity  should  be encouraged to undertake infrastructure development projects on which government spends an estimated  Shs. 7 trillion. “This is the only way we can develop and  increase local content participation.”   

Kasaija implored other Uganda innovators to follow the Kiira Motors model -to patent and commercialize  their innovations  . Kiira Motors has unveiled its production electric buses paving way for the deployment of the first Ugandan made  Kayoola EVS buses for urban transportation . After the successful validation tests, the Kayoola EVS buses are expected to be deployed on the Entebbe express highway .

The Finance Minister pledged that government will bridge the funding gap for the Kiira Vehicles plant to be completed on schedule .  “The Job you have started by demonstrating  local capacity in development of green mobility technologies as a solution for urban public transportation shall be completed ,” he stressed.

The minister was taken on a site tour by the Kiira Motors Executive Chairman , Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, the Under Secretary of Ministry Of Science Technology and Innovation, Mr. Emmanuel Freddie Mugunga , the CEO, Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi and Brig. Gen. Ddiba Ssentongo the Deputy Managing Director of National Enterprise Corporation ,(NEC) the business army of the UPDF who are in charge of the construction works .

Prof. Tickodri thanked  President Yoweri Museveni for believing and supporting Kiira Motors’  mission vehicles made in Uganda . Brig. Ssentongo said that with the availability of funds ,  NEC has the capacity to complete the  construction of the Kiira Vehicle Plant  ahead of schedule. “We shall delivery a world class vehicle plant to show that Uganda and the UPDF have the requisite competences and capacity to deliver high quality projects of national strategic importance ,” he said.

Mr. Mugunga called for the setting up of a National Construction Company in a deliberate effort to stop capital freight by foreign companies .

According to , Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi, the new Kiira Motors  electric buses can cover a distance of 300 kilometers under a single charge.  They have a speed governor that allows a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour but can pick up to a speed of 140 Kilometers per hour .

The 12 meter long  Kayoola EVS buses  have a capacity of 90 passengers (49 sitting and 41 standing) while the diesel engine ones will seat 65 passengers .

The writer is a media and communications consultant  and advocate of the high Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

UGANDA SHOULD COMMERCIALISE ITS INNOVATIONS WITH KIIRA MOTORS TAKING THE LEAD

By MOSES SSERWANGA

Reference is made to an article by a one MatsikoKahunga that has been published by the New Vision and Observer newspapers ,respectively, where he makes uninformed arguments that Kiira Motors or any other Ugandan innovators for that matter don’t have capacity to turn their innovations into commercial products on a large scale .

Suffice to say that this is the mentality or mindset lock that has kept not only Uganda but the black African continent lagging behind in terms of development for  more than 200 years .  While many Ugandan innovators have failed to have their innovations transformed into commercial products for various reasons, at least Kiira Motors is on a steady trajectory to hit the market place by becoming the first indigenous registered company to produce both electric and combustion engine vehicles at a commercial level.

This follows a well laid out road-map approved by cabinet in April 2018to  commercialize the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project by championing value addition in the domestic automotive industry for job creation and diversification of the Ugandan economy. The cabinet decision was informed by a comprehensive appraisal and approval of the Feasibility Study for Setting Up and Operating the Kiira VehiclePlant by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

 

By doing this , government and the management of Kiira Motors were fully aware that to make  this giant step –going forward,   the market entry strategy is to produce vehicles starting with electric buses in partnership with a reputable automotive manufacturers(s)  also known as (aka) Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).  It is anticipated  that this partnership will foster the progressive development of automotive local content participation through technology transfer .

It should be noted, therefore,  that Kiira Motors is already collaborating with CHTC Motor Co. Ltd a vehicle-manufacturing venture and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), the largest State-Owned group with the most diverse and comprehensive lines of business and strongest research and development (R&D) capabilities in China’s machinery industry.

SINOMACH was ranked 334th in the 2017 list of the world’s top 500 companies, with revenues of USD 32.24 Billion. CHTC Motor has seven vehicle manufacturing facilities in China and two in Europe (TAM airport Buses and GINAF trucks) producing a comprehensive product portfolio covering pick-up trucks, light, medium & heavy duty trucks, buses and sports utility vehicles(SUVs) with conventional Internal Combustion Engine(ICE) and new energy Powertrain options (electric, fuel cell, solar, compressed natural gas(CNG), water, etc.).

With this partnership, it is envisaged further  that at  the start of Kiira Motors Commercialization of its green mobility technologies/products (ie. Electric buses )- CHTC Motor Co. Ltd will  supply, install, validate  plant machinery, tools and equipment; work with  Kiira Motors engineers to design  plant systems, processes and standard Operating procedures; supply of kits in line with the production schedule; train and manufacture launch-support for the Kiira Vehicle Plant which is under construction at the Jinja Industrial and Business park.

The idea here is to make sure that all the vehicles production processes are carried out at the Kiira Motors vehicle plant to ensure capacity development and technology transfer  while at the same time allowing development of automotive local content participation.

This approach when well executed will eliminate the mere importation of semi-knock down kits for assembly purposes only. In otherward, the engineers at Kiira Motors will be allowed to develop their skills in development of vehicle parts and building them into complete vehicle units.

There is also the misplaced argument about the legality of Kiira Motors Corporation Ltd.  For the record, Kiira Motors Corporation is a limited liability Company incorporated under the

Companies Act, 2012,with 96% government equity and Makerere university owning 4%.  So its a fallacy for one to state  that Kiira Motors is a government department or agency or academic institution and whoever is making such allegations must be having ulterior motives akin to those of briefcase middlemen.

Until two years ago, Kiira Motors was being operated at Uganda Development Corporation where its progression to commercialize its products stalled -for again various reasons which necessitated President Yoweri Museveni to  intervene and had it transferred to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation .

Again for the record, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is mandated to provide policy guidance and oversight to Kiira Motors Corporation  and is not involved in the company’s day today operations.

Ugandan innovators should be allowed the space to mature their products and have them produced on a large commercial scale with Kiira Motors taking the lead.

The writer is a media and communications consultant trainer / Advocate of the High court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

NO HIDING PLACE FOR WAR CRIMINALS ,ARREST WARRANTS FOR LRA’S JOSEPHY KONY AND VICENT OTTI SHOULD NOT BE WITHDRAWN

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The International Criminal Court  (ICC)  has dropped arrest warrants against Raska Lukwiya and Okot Odhiambo the two top commanders of Joseph Kony’s  marauding Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

This is after the Hague  based court had in 2005 issued the same arrest warrants against the notorious LRA war lords, Joseph Kony , Vicent Otti, Lukwiya, Dominic Ongwen and Odhiaambo to answer charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed  in northern Uganda  .The arrest  warrants were lifted after the judges satisfied themselves with evidence that the dual were now deceased . This is  not to abandon  the fact that the LRA bandits waged a bloody -vicious war against a civilian population in northern Uganda for well over two decades .

It is therefore, rather unfortunate that the two LRA commanders did not live to face justice for the  horrendous crimes they committed while they waged an unjustified , senseless war. And although they died with blood on their hands, it would have been prudent for them to stand trial and answer for the atrocities they committed . This is because the criminal enterprise and shocking brutality of Kony and his cohorts is well documented .

They wrecked havoc- killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians while displacing a whole generation -that was confined and lived in protected camps for decades. One of their killing fields was at Purengo where an estimated 30 people were executed in 1989. Another estimated 400 civilians were massacred by the same group in Lamwo county in Kitgum district .

The mayhem did not end there nor did it spare little innocent girls when the LRA raided a girls school - St. Mary’s College Aboke in Apac district on October 10,1996 and abducted 139 girls whom they took as sex slaves , enlisting others  as child soldiers within their rank and file.

Kony  and his  LRA gangsters employed  machetes and hoes to maim their victims; chopping lips and ears of their captives. They forced the child soldiers to fight and kill their own mothers, fathers and other  relatives. Many of the lucky survivors will never recover from the trauma visited upon them by the blood-soiled hands of Kony and his commanders.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (often referred to as the International Criminal Court Statute or the Rome Statute), the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC) was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome to specifically curtail war crimes and ensure that suspected war criminals face trial at a court of competent jurisdiction .

                                                                                                                                               

. The statute, which came into force on July 1, 2002 and has since been ratified by 110 countries including Uganda, has drastically changed international criminal law as we have come to know it. Under this law some far reaching precedents have been set and one of those is that perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity have no place to  hide in the modern era.

War crimes and crimes against humanity are now international in nature and  this means that suspects can be picked from anywhere in the world by any spirited individual or state to face justice .

While Dominic Ongwen   is now facing war crimes charges at the Huage ,his bosses Joseph Kony and Vicent Otti are  still on the run in the jungles of  eastern Congo . The hunt  for these men should continue and be brought to justice to send an unwavering message that there will be no hiding place for war criminals- today  and in the future .

The writer is an advocate of the High Court of Uganda and Media and Communications Consultant .

msserwanga@gmail.com

DR RUGUNDA SAYS UGANDA’S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY KEY FOR BALANCE OF TRADE

BY Moses Sserwanga

The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has stressed the critical role Kiira Motors Corporation and the nascent automotive industry will play to reduce Uganda’s import bill and balance the country ‘s trade with the outside world.

“ We import far more goods than we export and this is a situation which must change. We need to reduce our import bill and balance our trade by exporting high quality - locally made products like the cars which will be produced by the Kiira Motors Corporation” Dr Rugunda stated.

He said that Kiira Motors Corporation, the flagship for Mission Vehicles made in Uganda was a very important national program of strategic importance that should be supported all the way- to deliver quality and affordable vehicles for the domestic, regional and international markets. He said Uganda should leverage the newly created African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) by supplying high quality affordable products. AFCFTA was created following the African Continental Free Trade Agreement among 54 of the 55 African Union nations. It is the largest in the world in terms of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organisation.

A jovial Dr. Rugunda observed that with a huge available market for cars, where 630,000 units are expected to be bought in the East African Region annually by 2032, there is need to streamline Uganda’s automotive industry across the entire value chain so that Ugandans can be stimulated to make car parts and supply them to the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja. “We are looking at real possibilities where Kiira Motors and the automotive sector in general will be at the center for creating many opportunities across the value chain”, he added.

The Prime Minister made the remarks yesterday at a colourful ceremony where he presided over the transfer of Kiira Motors Corporation, a State Enterprise established to undertake the Commercialisation of the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Hon. Amelia Kyambadde the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives handed over the ownership instruments of Kiira Motors to her Colleague the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye.

Others present to witness the seamless handover were Prof. Henry Arinaitwe who represented the Vice Chancellor Makerere University, the Permanent Secretary MOSTI, Mr. David. O.O. Obong, the Executive Chairman of Kiira Motors Corporation, Hon. Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Tobgoa and the Chief Executive Officer of Kiira Motors, Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi. The Prime Minister said the symbolic handover was a testament to the cordial working relations among government ministries to foster economic growth and ensure the country is transformed to middle income status.

Trade Minister, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, reminded the meeting that Kiira Motors Corporation is a state enterprise which was incorporated under the Uganda Companies Act, 2012, to champion the development of the domestic automotive value chain for job and wealth creation in line with Uganda Vision 2040. The equity partners are government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation holding 96% of the initial stock and Makerere University holding 4%. She said that while under her ministry, Kiira Motors had registered major milestones that included the construction and installation of a 3.7km long 33kV medium voltage electricity line connecting the Kiira Vehicle Plant to the national electricity grid and installation of a 5.4km long 6-inch pipeline connecting the plant site to the Jinja municipal water supply system among others.

Mrs. Kyambadde who has been championing Uganda’s participation in the Africa Free Trade Area expressed confidence in the capabilities and organisational capacity of Kiira Motors Corporation under its new mother Ministry of Science Trade and Innovation to deliver on their promises to develop green mobility technologies that will be herald across the world. “Kiira Motors is on the right trajectory and it has all our support, “she stated.

Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye who is now superintending over the Kiira Motors national enterprise thanked President Yoweri Museveni for setting up the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation because it has given hope to Ugandan innovators who hitherto had no known home. He said that apart from setting up MOSTI, government has gone ahead to provide an innovation fund of shs.10bn for the Financial Year 2019/20 to support local innovators. The fund is expected to grow to a tune of shs.500bn.

Hon. Dr. Tumwesigye explained that the ministry will register all innovators across the country and set up a committee of experts who will select those innovators with innovations that can be commercialised to realise economic growth and national development. It is those selected innovators that will be funded and supported by Government. While briefing the meeting about the progress made by Kiira Motors, the company’s CEO Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi said that 324 Ugandans are being employed at the Kiira Vehicles Plant construction site in Jinja. He noted that the construction of Key Access Roads and the Start-Up Assembly Building are underway, with the latter at Substructure Level.

Musasizi expressed the importance of putting in place an automotive policy to regulate vehicle imports and exports, to ensure progressive enhancement of automotive local content participation through technology transfer, development and diffusion.

The writer is a media and communications consultant and advocate of the High Court of Ugandamsserwanga@gmail.com

UGANDA TO DEVELOP AUTOMOTIVE POLICY:MINISTER TUMWESIGYE RALLIES THE YOUTH TO BENEFIT FROM THE CAR PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The development of Uganda’s nascent automotive industry took yet another giant step when Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, inaugurated a eight member taskforce to draft the country’s first Automotive Industry Development  Policy .

At a colourful function held at the Ministry’s head office at Rumee Towers in Kampala , Dr. Tumwesigye seized the moment to rally Ugandans especially the youth to strategically position themselves to benefit from the abundant opportunities available along the car production value chain.

With the automotive market expected to hit 500,000 units (half a million cars)  bought every year in the East African Region alone by 2027, Dr. Tumwesigye noted that the industry will be one of Uganda’s and the region ‘s major economic drivers for many years to come.

Coupled with a rapid growing population not only in Uganda but the African continent at large and vast natural resources in Uganda like Iron Ore, Banana fiber and oil, the jovial minister hastened to add that innovative and productive Ugandans should prepare themselves to supply car parts and other services once Uganda goes  full throttle in the production of cars at a commercial scale. He emphasised  the need for a skilled human resource to ensure compliance to acceptable international standards .

The Kiira Vehicles Plant is being  constructed at the Jinja Industrial Park by the Uganda People’s Defence Force , (UPDF) under its business army -the National Enterprise Corporation ,NEC headed by Gen James Mugira and is slated to be completed by 2021.

The task force is mandated to conclude its  work in three months and is composed of experts who include ,Mr. Emmanuel  Freddie Mugunga , Under Secretary at The Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) who is also the Chairman , Eng Tony Bafirawala Kavuma, the Chief Executive Mechanical; Engineer at the Ministry of Works  and Vice Chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Emmanuel Mutahunga ,Commissioner External trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperative , Mr Moses Ogwapus Commisiner Tax Policy at the Ministry of Finance , Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Jacob Lumonya ,Prinicipal Executive Mechanical Engineer at ministry of Works and Transport, Mr. Richard Ebong , Manager Legal Metrology Department at Uganda Bureau of Standards,  Mr. Emmanuel  Omene Principal Economist Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation  and Paul Omara from the private sector and the Chief Executive officer of  Ngetta Tropical holdings Ltd..

.The committee will be supported by a secretariat headed by Mr. Paul Isaac musasizi ,the Chief Executive Officer , (CEO) of Kiira Motors ,the country’s flagship for cars made in Uganda  . Other memebrs of the secretariat are ,Arthur  Tumusiime Asiimwe, Allan Muhumuza, Pauline Korukundo and  Thatcher Nakimuli Mpanga .

Dr ,Abubakar Muhammad Moki, the Commissioner Policy Development at the Cabinet Secretariat told the Task Force members to draft  an automotive development policy that will be people centered and serve the interests of the citizen. “The policy should be informed and evidence based , widely consulted , to be inclusive and easily communicated to enable easy assess and compliance,” he stressed .

According to the Task Force ‘s chairman Mr. Mugunga , Uganda’s Automotive Development Policy is expected to make an important contribution to the transformation of the automotive industry , enabling increased value addition and local content participation while securing standardization and regulatory compliance by the value chain actors.

The taskforce will periodically report to the wider multi-sectoral stakeholder consultative forum to consider the developed policy proposals. The multi-sectoral stakeholder consultative forum chaired by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of science ,Technology and Innoation  shall include , Ministry of justice  and Constitutional Affairs, Kiira Motors Corporation , Uganda National Bureau of Standards ,Ministry of East Africa Community affairs, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development ,Ministry of Trade Industry and cooperatives ,Uganda Revenue Authority , Uganda National Roads Authority , Ministry of Works , Uganda Investment Authority , Uganda national bureau of Standards , Uganda Police force and the Ministry of Science Technology and innovation.

The writer is a media and communications consultant/trainer and

Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION CEO MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO UGANDA’S MINISTRY OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

By Moses Sserwanga

The Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , Dr. Susan Desmond Hellmann , has made a historic visit to Uganda ‘s Ministry of  Science, Technology and Innovation  (MoSTI)  and pledged that her organisation will offer  technical support to create a mass of specialized and skilled human resource that can advance Uganda’s innovations .

While citing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation motto ; “All lives have equal value”, Dr. Hellmann who was received by  the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye,  said  she was excited about the opportunity to work  with the ministry  to upscale Uganda’s  innovations to benefit as many  people as possible.

“Have young  people  get excited about Uganda’s  innovations which should be of beneficial value and we are looking forward to a collaboration that will enhance science ,technology and innovation in Uganda ,” she stated.

Dr. Hellmann  gave the  MoSTI leadership  headed by  Dr .Tumwesigye a “ Grand Challenges Uganda” concept note which  offers mechanisms through which the Ministry’s technocrats can take advantage  of   the available resources and opportunities at the Bill  and Melinda Gates Foundation to champion science and innovations in Uganda.

Dr.Tumwesigye  highlighted the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s mandate to promote research and encourage development of indigenous innovations for the purpose of facilitating indigenous knowledge , systems and commercialization of Uganda’s innovations like the Kiira Electric and solar powered cars . He further stated that the ministry was at the forefront of establishing product development facilities , innovation hubs and technology parks across the country .

Dr. Hellmann was accompanied by Mr.David  Mukanga, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Director   for Africa . She  held a closed door meeting with the MOST technical officials who included among others , the Under Secretary, Mr. Freddie  E. Mugunga,  the Director for Science , Research and Innovation Eng. Dr. James Kasigwa and the Director Techno-preneurship ,  Mr. Basil Ajer .

Others in attendance were, the Kiira Motors  Corporation (KMC), Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi , the Operations Manager at Kiira Motors , Mr. Arthur Tumusiime Asiimwe and Dr. D. Kamugasha, the Deputy Executive Director of the Uganda Institute for Research and Innovation (UIRI).

Dr.Hellmann  and her team later toured an exhibition by some of  Uganda’s Innovators  working under the Ministry of Science ,Technology and Innovation who included , Kiira Motors ,the country  ‘s flagship for vehicles made in Uganda and the green mobility technologies, Banana Industrial Development (PIBID), the Uganda Institute For Research and Innovation .   Other exhibitors were drawn from Makerere and Mbarara Universities .

UNIVERSITIES SHOULD FOCUS ON PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING-PROF TICKODRI-TOGBOA

By Moses Sserwanga

Universities should change the manner in which they deliver education by emphasizing  practical- innovative skills training rather than testing old theories if the country is to over come the growing unemployment problem , renowned scholar, Prof. Sandy Steves Tickodri- Togboa has  stated .

“What is the purpose of telling first year University students to test the ohm’s law theory in the 21 century . Instead  ,students should be encouraged  to think outside the box and come up with new innovative ideas and solutions to the challenges  of the  fast changing modern world,” he said .

Prof Tickodri –Togboa , who is also the Executive Chairman of Kiira Motors Corporation Uganda ‘s flagship for the automotive industry , was speaking to students and staff of Muni University in Arua district .

Prof Tickodri led a team of Kiira Motoros to showcase the kiira EVS at his former Oduruba primary school in Arua district. He attended primary at this village school some 50 years ago. The team was welcomed by excited pupils led by the headmistress Lillian Adele.

The change in the universities’ teaching methods, he noted, will lead to the production of skilled graduates to tackle society’s technological  challenges . “ Uganda and Africa in general can not sit back as the rest of the world is fully engaged in transformative -technology innovations .Some of our Universities’ pedagogy must change,” he stressed.

While highlighting his own experience while still lecturing at Makerere University’s college of  Engineering Design Art and Technology  , Tickodri-Togboa said he had to make some radical proposals to offer hands-on skills training to his students that eventually resulted in the production of the first concept electric vehicle in Uganda and Africa. “This idea has now transformed into something big for Uganda –the Kiira Motors Corporation that is set to produce cars for the first time in Uganda. We are now in the process of setting up a vehicles production plant at the Jinja industrial Park- a government  venture that many Ugandans are proud of ,” he said.

The kiira EVS was exhibited at Muni University in Arua to motivate students to become Uganda’s next innovators .

He said the Kiira Motors model should be picked up by universities and work on innovative projects that will be of national value. For  the last one week ,Prof. Tickodri has led a team of engineers from Kiira Motors , to showcase and validate the capabilities of the Kiira EVS car while on a tour of West Nile , Northern and Eastern regions of the country covering a distance of well over 1500 kilometers .

Other team members included ,Richard Madanda, Fred Matovu, Mario Gira Obua ,Ian John Kawuma,  Moses Wasswa Kalule and Fred Kayemba.

Mr. Allan Muhumuza, the company’s Business Development Manager, said Kiira Motors has made the decision to the exhibition the vehicle in various parts of the country to show Uganda’s capabilities in making executive sedans locally and cultivate orders for the niche market segment.

At the elite St Mary’s girls secondary school Edioffe , students expressed interest in studying sciences to carry forward Kiira Motors’s achievements forward.

“We have continued to push the frontiers of what was thought as far-fetched in Uganda’s upstream participation in the automotive value chain. The Kiira EVS is one fine piece of Ugandan engineering and design,” he stated.

He said that by showcasing the Kiira EVS, the company will demonstrate to Ugandans the vast opportunities available in the automotive industry for local content development. “When the automotive industry takes off with Kiira Motors at the helm, Ugandans should be in position to benefit directly through prospects for manufacturing and supplying vehicle parts for the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja,” Muhumuza who was addressing students at Muni University ,added.

At Muni University , Kiira motors team was received by the Deputy Vice Chancellor , Prof. Simon Aguma, University Secretary . Fr. Picho, the Deputy University Secretary, Abok Maxwell  Amulla and Guild President Jesse Mugabi.

At Oduruba Primary  School, where Prof.Tickdori enrolled for his primary education more than 50 years ago, he encouraged the pupils to work hard to ensure that they takeover from the current generation and carry on with home made technological innovations .

He implored the teachers to pay special attention to the girl child to embrace science subjects . The Kiira EVS was also exhibited at Arua demonstration school, and the elite St Mary’s Ediofe girls school where excited students promised to study sciences and become innovators to transform the country .

The Deputy RDC Arua district , Ms Alice Akello called upon the youth to be innovative and self sustaining . he District police Commander Arua, Sam suubi said that Kiira Motors was a great inspiration to the country in the field of science and technology and should be emulated by the youth o fight poverty .

The kiira team s Allan Muhumuza being welcomed by youthful LCV Chairman Pakwach district, Robert Steen Omito,  at the Pakwach bridge the gateway to West Nile region.

In Pakwach the lC V  chairman , Hon Robert Steen Omito was joined by a mammoth  crowd to welcome the Kiira EVS also known as the Beast . Other towns where the car was showcased included , Nebbi, Lira, Gulu, Moroto, Tororo, Mbale  and Iganga.

It was all nostalgic as Richard Madanda, the Kiira Motors Director production Development,led the Kiira team to exhibit the Kiira EVS back at Iganga Boys Boarding Primary School where he enrolled in primary one in 1993 till primary seven in 1999.

While at the school, he told the pupils  that  he was taught by the same teachers and studied in the same buildings before joined Namilyongo college and later joined Makerere University where he studied engineering . He was among the first students to work on the kiira EV concept vehicle . He encouraged  the pupils to study hard especially Mathematics and sciences to aspire to become engineers and innovators to contribute to their country’s development agenda . He said some of  them could one day make parts for the cars made in Uganda.

Kiira Motors Corporation is a State Enterprise established to make vehicles in Uganda. “One of our strategic objectives is to set up and operate vehicle plants and service centers for the assembly and selling of vehicles and provision of vehicle support products and services that exceed customer expectation,” Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi the KMC, Chief Executive Officer said. 

Kiira Motors Corporation has also produced the Kayoola Solar Bus and the Kiira EV, winning regional and international recognition as a pioneer in developing vehicle clean energy technologies in Africa.

The Kiira EVS is a 4-Seater Executive Vehicle built off the Kiira EV SMACK Platform fitted with a 2.0 Litre Petrol Engine, 5 Speed Automatic Transmission, and an exquisite Beige Interior Trim.

The writer is communications and media consultant /Advocate of High Court of Uganda

msserwanga @gmail.com

Kiira Motors Will Deliver World Class Vehicles Plant says PS David O.O.Obong

By Moses Sserwanga

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science, Technology  and Innovation , Mr. David O.O Obong has expressed confidence that Kiira Motors Ltd will deliver a world class vehicles production plant at the Jinja industrial and business park .

" I'm confident that the talented team at Kiira Motors in partnership with the UPDF Engineering Brigade under National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and other consultants on the project will  prove wrong- the doubting thomases .

I cherish team work and together we are going to deliver to the Ugandan people one of the best car production plants.  Kiira Motors and NEC have developed capabilities to put in place a good facility. To make history and I want to be part of that success story,”  Obong , a seasoned technocrat who said he doesn’t associate himself with fail ,stressed.

The Permanent Secretary was on Friday inspecting the on going construction works at the multi billion facility the first of its kind in Uganda .  At the site in Kagogwe, Mutai , Jinja district , he was joined by the Kiira Motors, Executive Chairman Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa ,the Chief Executive Officer , Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi, General Manager NEC, Mr. Brian Buhanda and Dr. Kariko Buhwezi , the CEO Technology Consults Ltd- the firm that is supervising the on going works.

Obong said that the Kiira Vehicles Plant is one of the key projects of great  national importance that the Ministry of Science ,Technology and Innovation is implementing and it should be given support by all Ugandans.  Over ,300 people are to be employed from the local communities during  implementation of the project .

Last year government approved the feasibility study for setting up the Kiira Vehicle Plant and approved a seed fund of UGX 143.7 Billion for its implementation across a four year period. So far ,UGX 24 Billion was approved for the  financial year  2018/19 under the Ministry of Science ,Technology and Innovation  budget.

Progress of on going works

While giving a brief about the progress of the on going works at the Plant’s site ,Mr. Paul Isaac

Musasizi, the Kiira Motors CEO, informed the PS that the construction and installation of a

3.7km long 33kv electricity line connecting the Kiira Vehicle Plant Site to the national

electricity grid is completed together with the  construction and installation of a 5.4km long 6-

inch water pipeline connecting the plant site to the municipal water supply line .

 

Musasizi further explained that  detailed design specifications and bills of quantities for the Kiira Vehicle Plant start up facilities with the initial installed capacity of 5,000 vehicles per year were developed and approved by relevant authorities. The Startup facilities at the plant will  include the assembly shop, office block, circulation roads, power and water distribution systems, waste management facilities, fence and gate facilities, drainage system and key vehicle test tracks.

Kiira Motors in January 2019, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UPDF ‘s  

National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), to  provide a framework for the construction of the

Kiira Vehicle Plant Start-Up facilities at the plant site . The agreement is  based on the Force

Account Mechanism provided for under Section 95 (A) of the Public Procurement Disposal of

Assets (PPDA)  Act, 2003 (as amended).

What it means

In legal terms , the force account mechanism is a means of undertaking works of a Procuring and

Disposing Entity using the personnel and equipment of the Procuring and Disposing Entity of

another procuring and disposing Entity. In other words  tt is not a method of procurement but

a method of executing works.

Construction works started  in February 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by June

2021. ;Security has been deployed on site by the Uganda Police working closely with the UPDF.

Kiira Motors has also signed a contract with Free Construction Ltd, to open up key roads at

Kiira Vehicle Plant Site which will include  a dual carriage principal road - 2.44km long and

classified Road – 350m long).

The writer is a communication and media consultant/trainer and Advocate of the High

Court.

msserwanga@gmail.com