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
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