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
