·
Minister
says Kiira Motors vehicles made in Uganda should be sold across Africa
·
Tasks
Board Members to make Kiira Motors a viable ,successful business
·
Sets
targets to have company listed on the
stock exchange
·
Hails
President Museveni for supporting Ugandan scientists and Kiira Motors in
particular
A 13 member strong Board of Directors for Uganda’s
Automotive Industry flagship Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) has been
inaugurated in Kampala by the Minister of Science ,Technology and Innovation,
(MoSTI) Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye.
The Kiira Motors Board of Directors comprises eminent
Ugandans who have excelled in different
fields of expertise and they include , Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri who is the
Executive Chairman, Mr. David Omara Oleke Obong Permanent Secretary MoSTI,
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe -the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University ,Mr. Yusuf
Kiranda Ag. Makerere university Secretary , Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi- the CEO
KMC, Mr. Basil Ajer- Director at MoSTI, Mr. Ronald Rwankangi , Rev. Sister Mary
Grace Akiror, Ms. Aisha Naiga, Eng. Henry Alinaitwe, Ms. Christine Sekyana, Ms.
Yudaya Babirye and Dr. Charles Barugahare.
“ I commission you to be the champions of building of
an indigenous motor vehicle industry in Uganda while ensuring that you
collectively direct the company's affairs, while meeting the interests of the
shareholders and other key stakeholders,” Dr. Tumwesigye said.
The minister asserted that the new board the first to
be appointed for Automotive Industry Captains Kiira Motors has a duty to ensure
that the company’s innovations and products are turned into a viable business
that will lead to import substitution , create jobs and wealth for millions of Ugandans
across the automotive industry value chain.“
“We look forward to seeing Ugandan made vehicles driven across the
African continent and elsewhere in the world and have Kiira Motors listed on
the stock exchange ,” Dr. Tumwesigye stated while appreciating the visionary leadership of President Yoweri
Museveni who has given enormous support to Uganda’s scientists ,innovators and
Kiira Motors in particular.
Dr. Tumwesigye added ; “The opportunities to
commercialize the innovations at Kiira Motors Corporation have never been
brighter than now. These opportunities include- the recent directive by President Museveni to stop the importation of buses.”
Other opportunities
are the African Development Bank supported project implemented by KCCA
that among others seeks to produce 50 Eco- Buses (Electric Buses) which KMC can
provide; the Proposal for KMC to manufacture 1,030 Buses (980 Diesel and 50
Electric) for the TDB (PTA Bank) supported Tondeka Metro Mass Transit Bus
service for Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
This project has an additional prospect of a long term Technology
Transfer and supply chain localization partnership with the Chinese Company
Golden Dragon for commercial production of 30,000 buses targeting the regional
market and reaching 65% auto parts localization by 2030.
Dr. Tumwesigye commended the Kiira Motors Executive Chairman
, Pro.Tickodri-Togboa and CEO , Mr.
Musasizi who have led a brave and committed team of innovators who have tirelessly worked to transform the
company ‘s revolutionary innovations and
ideas into commercial products . Kiira
Motors ‘ fully electric buses -the Kayoola EVS and the Kayoola Diesel Coach
are now deployed to offer shuttle
services for the staff of Civil Aviation
Authority . Kiira Motors which is
championing green mobility technologies in Africa has developed, produced and
deployed fully electric buses -the first of a kind in the east
and Central Africa .
Dr. Tumwesigye told the new Board Members that Kiira
Motors Corporation is a State Enterprise established to champion value addition
in the nascent Motor Vehicle Industry in Uganda through Technology Transfer,
Contract Manufacturing and Supply Chain Localization.
The Shareholders of Kiira Motors Corporation are the
government of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology
and Innovation with 96% shareholding and Makerere University which
has 4% shares .
Company executives at KMC welcomed the board members
who were approved by Cabinet and said -that building the Indigenous Motor
Vehicle Industry is consistent with Uganda’s aspirations and pathways to Vision
2040 which is articulated in the National Development Plan III and the NRM
Manifesto 2021 – 2026.
The National Development Plan III allows for the
promotion of local manufacturing of motor vehicles, establishment of an
efficient, integrated, sustainable, safe and inclusive public transport system
and promotion of environmentally friendly transport solutions.
Kiira Motors Corporation is currently
leveraging government support and goodwill to cement its position as a
commercial vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and pioneers of
electric mobility in the East African region and the African content .
Speaking
at the same occasion , a jovial
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Science , Technology and
Innovation, Mr. Obong O.O. David ,stated ;” I am confident that the new board
is ready to take on the challenges ahead of the commercialization journey for
Kiira Motors Corporation. More so, having evolved from a staff and students’
extra curricula activity at Makerere University, into a national program
championing Value Addition in the Domestic Automotive Industry for job creation
and diversification of the economy in line with NDP III and Vision 2040.”
The Executive Chairman ,Prof. Tickodri thanked the top leadership at the Ministry of Sicence
Technology and Innovation led by Dr. Tumwesigye and PS Obong for their
technical support and guidance in establishing a solid governance structure at
kiira Motors .
Prof .Tickodri said the Board's priorities will be
guided by the strategic objectives for Kiira Motors Corporation which are to develop, make and sell Motor Vehicles
& Vehicle Components for the African market; provide design, software development,
engineering and testing services to the Global Automotive Industry and Adjacent
Industries (Electronics, Aerospace, Agriculture, Medical Devices, Construction
etc.).
Other components of Mission Vehicles Made in Uganda ,will
include the support for the establishment of efficient, integrated, safe and
inclusive public transport systems; advance
development and adoption of Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric (CASE)
vehicle technology in line with the automotive industry current and future
trends; localize the Automotive Industry Supply Chain for domestic value
addition; and provide policy advisory and advocacy for developing a sustainable
business environment for building the indigenous motor vehicle industry in
Uganda
The writer is a Media and Communications Consultant and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda
.
msserwanga@gmail.com
