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

SCIENCE AND INNOVATION WILL TRANSFORM AFRICA-MUSEVENI

 By Moses Sserwanga

Kiira Motors Ltd-Uganda’s flagship for the automotive industry which is exhibiting its Kiira EVS hybrid vehicle also known as the “Beast” at the on going Africa Now conference  , has registered regional and continental acclaim for its innovations and championing green mobility technologies in Africa.

Several local and international dignitaries are flocking the new Kiira EVS vehicle with Kiira Motors taking center stage at the continental event where ground breaking innovations that will take Africa to the next level are currently on display .

The two day event  held at Mununyo Commonwealth Resort and Conference Center is co-hosted by Uganda ‘s President  Yoweri Museveni who delivered a key note address on Tuesday , March 12, 2019.

 President Museveni highlighted the importance of innovation , science and research as key driving tools for the transformation of the African continent . “Apart from education and liberalization that frees the private sector to be active and innovative , you need other enablers like good infrastructure , value addition and democracy ,” he stated . 

“ Therefore, for Africa to undergo social-economic transformation , science and technology must lead the way . The scientists should be well paid ahead of everybody else because we badly need them to copy or innovate the crucial scientific discoveries ,” he emphasized .

The high profile conference which is held every two years has attracted hundreds of local and international dignitaries who include heads of state ,private sector, civil society and public policy experts. Among those in attendance is the Somalia President, Mohamid Abdulali Mohamed , Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto, Tazania Vice President Samia Hossan Suluhu and Egyptian Trade Minister Amr Nassar who represented President Abdi-Fital Sissi.

 

According to Africa Leadership Strategic Center Board of Directors Chairman, Dr .Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, the conference ‘s theme is “towards a secure, integrated and growing 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 Democratic Party President , Nobert Mao, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng. Irene Nafuna  Muloni , Uganda National Roads Authority, (UNRA), Allen Kagina were among many dignitaries who inspected the Kiira EVS and commended the work being undertaken by Kiira Motors to produce cars in Uganda. 

This is after , the Nabagereka of Buganda , Lady Sylvia Naginda , On Sunday 10,2019, also thanked the Kiira Motors team for its innovations in marketing Uganda’s budding automotive industry .  She was the chief guest at the Women in Rotary  annual dinner which was held at Serena hotel in Kampala.  

 

Mr. Allan Muhumuza, the Kiira Motors’ Business Development Manager ,  said the company  was happy to participate and  the exhibit the Kiira EVS at this  an African event to prove Uganda’s  capabilities in making executive sedans locally and cultivate orders for the niche market segment.

“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 the people of Africa 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 added.                                                            

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.

Kiira Motors Corporation is a State Enterprise, established to undertake the commercialisation of the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, championing value addition in the domestic automotive industry for job and wealth creation. The Ministry of Science Technology and  Innovation  is  mandated  to  provide Policy guidance  and  oversight  to  Kiira  Motors Corporation.

ENDS

GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN KIIRA MOTORS IS VITAL FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

As the country’s vehicles production flagship, Kiira Motors ,continues to champion mission cars  made in Uganda , public interest has increased with many commentators coming on board.

It is a mixed  bag with some commentaries lacking facts while others are coached in political rhetoric to advance selfish interests geared at  sabotaging  a government program of  strategic economic importance .

The latest to comment on Uganda’s prospects to produce cars is the- old man around town, John Nagenda, who in his latest article questioned government’s decision to invest in the automotive industry .In his typical rhetoric style he did not provide any researched  data to back up his argument.

However , available data shows that all the top economies of the world have  budding automotive industries .  From America 's automobile  heartbeat in Michigan (General Motors ) ,  China’s Shanghai General Motors, Malaysia’s Proton, Japan’ s Toyota ,  South Korea’s Hyundai  to   South Africa 's Honda,  the automotive sector has played a leading role in the development of these countries respective economies .

It is not a surprise therefore , that for all the top world biggest economies in 2019 to 2020  which include the USA, China, Japan Germany, United Kingdom, India , France and South Africa ,governments have invested heavily and continue to support their automotive industries . Governments in other relatively small economies like Vietnam, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey are funding their car producers.

In Asia, governments of major vehicle production countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan have played a virtual role to ensure that their automotive industries, do not only grow and survive the global economic turbulences but that such industries are at the center of growth for these now dubbed economic tigers.

In these countries, several policy interventions have been engineered from provision of affordable financing, to infrastructure development, provision of investment incentives, encouragement on innovation at all level of high learning and industry development to local content development programs.

When the global economy mired in an economic slowdown with global vehicle production dropping more than 10 million units in 2009 from a record high of over 72 million units built in 2007, governments put in place radical economic stimulus packages that boosted their failing automotive industries. Again these were government led interventions to support and prevent their automotive industries, which are the engines of their respective economies from collapsing.

It was not long before the positive impact of such initiatives was seen. A clear example is that of China, following the stimulus package from the Chinese government, China’s auto industry registered a rapid growth in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, China produced more than 13.6 million vehicles, overtaking USA to be the world’s largest car producer. In 2010, the growth momentum continued, bringing China’s vehicle production to nearly 18.3 million units, almost doubling its 2008 production registered before the global economic meltdown.

The Chinese government had opened up its auto market to international companies but only with the understanding that its domestic manufacturers would not be able to compete with the more sophisticated and experienced foreign rivals. Foreign automakers were allowed to enter the Chinese market only through joint ventures with local partners, oftentimes state-owned companies (SOEs)just like Kiira Motors , each with no more than 50% controlled by a major foreign nameplate automotive manufacturer.

Some of these joint ventures have seen VW joining forces with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and First Automotive Works Corporation (FAW). SAIC is also a joint venture partner of GM, while FAW is also a partner of Toyota. Honda and PSA Peugeot Citroen have both formed partnerships with Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

It is the same story with Malaysia which used a state led auto development approach by building national champions (read Kiira Motors)  before eventually commercializing and privatizing.

All this shows that the automotive industry which is going to be a major force for economic emancipation in the East Africa region and on the African continent will require infant industry state funding and  policy interventions for sustainability and ultimately competiveness.

And for the record, Uganda government ‘s funding of the state owned Kiira Motors has not come out of the blue. Due diligence has been made over the years and a blue print prepared and presented making the case that investing in the automotive sector is a viable venture of national strategic nature.

The Uganda government should not be cowed by the nay-sayers who are quick to praise our neighbours for carrying out similar investments while criticizing anything that is Ugandan.

The writer is a Media and Communications Consultant /Trainer and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

KIIRA MOTORS Vs. BAKAYIRA ARE MPs’ PLANS TO FUND BOTH RATIONAL ?

By Moses Sserwanga

The Observer newspaper has this week reported that some MPs are not satisfied with the performance of Kiira Motors hardly six months into the financial year. These same MPs are also  fast-tracking their weird ideas of cutting funding to Kiira Motors a government owned   company that is setting up a car production plant at the Jinja industrial park  and give the money  to an obscure private company called Bakayira. 

The debate about Kiira Motors  vs Bakayira is now gaining momentum as a section of MPs for self interests  are engaged in machinations to strip Kiira Motors of its funding in an effort to promote a private company whose viability in the automotive sector has not been documented anywhere.

The MPs' strategy is to divide the 44bn asked for by Kiira Motors  in the next financial year and give it to Bakayira where it can easily be misappropriated . But remember that it has taken Kiira Motors well over 10 years to prove its  competences and capabilities in order to attract this initial Uganda government funding of  Shs. 15bn out of the 24bn for the development /production phase of this project the current financial year and another 44bn for the  next financial year .

 Kiira Motors has deployed these funds to set up a vehicles production plant at  the Jinja Industrial Park. The construction work which began barely two months ago , is being carried out by the UPDF Engineering brigade under the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) - the business arm of the army headed by an impeccable lawyer Lt. Gen. James Mugira . Before government agreed  to fund the  Kiira Motors development/production phase , the company had  to make a detailed business case to prove the commercial and business viability of the mission to make cars in Uganda while championing the green mobility technologies (electric cars) .

Kiira Motors management has over the years, in its pursuit to be funded , made several high profile presentations to Parliament, Ministry of Finance and even cabinet.  The initial funding to  Kira Motors of  about 15bn out of the 24 bn budgeted for this financial  year was made after cabinet studied the Kiira Motors business case and approved it with the support of  parliament.

The company  has not only made a viable case for the mission cars made in Uganda but  has also tested and proved it's competencies , capabilities in technological innovations by producing three  electric vehicles ; the Kiira Ev, the Kayoola Solar bus , and the Kiira EVS  also know as "The Beast" .  Kiira Motors is the Pioneer of green mobility  technologies in the automotive industry not only in Uganda , the East African region but the African continent . Kiira Motors is an award winning technology  innovator  in Uganda's  automotive industry and this is  well documented .

It is bizarre therefore,  that hardly six months after the initial release of funds for  for the development and production phase of this  national project of strategic importance , some Members of Parliament want to sabotage it even before it gets off the ground . These  MPs must be stopped in their tracks . Politics and self interest should not be promoted at the expense of national projects of strategic nature .The Kiira Motors project if well funded and well managed will bring enormous economic opportunities in the fields of  technology innovation, the job market , value addition and foreign exchange earnings .

And this is not to say that Bakayira  shouldn’t be funded but their funding should not come from the kiira Motors vote. Let them prepare and submit a viable proposal to government for approval be funded on merit.

Otherwise, Kiira Motors needs the support of every Ugandan. Let government fund this project until it can sustain itself and the business case shows that will break even .

The writer is a Media and  Communications Consultant/ trainer and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda.

msserwanga@gmail.com

A NEW KIIRA EVS “THE BEAST”HITS THE ROAD TO BE EXHIBITED AT PARLIAMNENT

By Moses Sserwanga

Kiira Motors Corporation, will exhibit a new version of one of its products dubbed the Kiira EVS also known as “The Beast”