Monday, June 28, 2021

KIIRA MOTORS TO PRODUCE 1,030 TONDEKA BUSES

 

Kiira Motors-Uganda’s  pioneer automakers is set to produce at least 1,030 buses  50 units of which will be

electric for Tondeka BTC to be deployed for the Mass Transit Bus Sytem Project in the Greater Kampala

Metropolitan Area , the two companies announced in various tweets on their respective official twitter handles.

 

In what is considered to be  the biggest- multi-billion local partnership that will also attract Original Equipment

Manufacturing (OEM) technology transfer , financing and ICT ticketing -systems operator companies, the

Companies said that preparation for the delivery of 10 “training buses” (8 diesel and 2 electric) is underway.

These will include  5 Complete Built Unit (CBU)/Fully Built Unit (FBU) diesel buses; parts & materials

for building 3 diesel and 2 electric buses; and 2 chargers will be shipped and delivered before

 end of August 2020.

 

Kiira Motors and Tondeka executives were tight lipped about the details of the partnership which sources

said has been a work in progress since the year began .  Impeccable sources said details about partnership

which many  Ugandans have been pushing for - to  realise Mission Vehicles  Made  in  Uganda will be

“released at an appropriate time .”

 

The companies however ,indicated that the building of the 3 diesel and 2 electric buses will be done at

KiiraMotors. “This will facilitate training of critical mass on manufacturing and maintenance of the

 buses ensuring end to end operationalization of the #KiiraVehiclePlant.”

 

They explained that the ‘Training Buses” will also enable validation of the Logistics Plan and Strategy for

delivery of parts and materials for the 1,030 Buses. This includes packaging; handling of goods during

shipment, delivery lead time, customs clearance, road transportation among others.

 

“The Training Buses will empower the Operator Ecosystem through training of drivers, charging operators,

stewards, supervisors, cleaners and data collection ahead of the launch of the Mass Transit Bus System. The

Training Buses will also ensure bus deployment validation of the Ticketing and Fare Collection System (TFCS)

 IT infrastructure, depots, charging infrastructure, bus stops and control center among others.

 

 

The muilti-million dollar Kiira Vehicle Plant is nearing completion at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park. With a capacity to produce 22 buses a day and an estimated 5,000 buses a year.  The Kiira Vehicle Plant -the largest in the East Central African region is at 81% completion. It is being built by the UPDF engineering brigade under the UPDF business arm - the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) headed by the amiable General James Mugira and Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi.

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