DR RUGUNDA SAYS UGANDA’S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY KEY FOR BALANCE OF TRADE

BY Moses Sserwanga

The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has stressed the critical role Kiira Motors Corporation and the nascent automotive industry will play to reduce Uganda’s import bill and balance the country ‘s trade with the outside world.

“ We import far more goods than we export and this is a situation which must change. We need to reduce our import bill and balance our trade by exporting high quality - locally made products like the cars which will be produced by the Kiira Motors Corporation” Dr Rugunda stated.

He said that Kiira Motors Corporation, the flagship for Mission Vehicles made in Uganda was a very important national program of strategic importance that should be supported all the way- to deliver quality and affordable vehicles for the domestic, regional and international markets. He said Uganda should leverage the newly created African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) by supplying high quality affordable products. AFCFTA was created following the African Continental Free Trade Agreement among 54 of the 55 African Union nations. It is the largest in the world in terms of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organisation.

A jovial Dr. Rugunda observed that with a huge available market for cars, where 630,000 units are expected to be bought in the East African Region annually by 2032, there is need to streamline Uganda’s automotive industry across the entire value chain so that Ugandans can be stimulated to make car parts and supply them to the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja. “We are looking at real possibilities where Kiira Motors and the automotive sector in general will be at the center for creating many opportunities across the value chain”, he added.

The Prime Minister made the remarks yesterday at a colourful ceremony where he presided over the transfer of Kiira Motors Corporation, a State Enterprise established to undertake the Commercialisation of the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Hon. Amelia Kyambadde the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives handed over the ownership instruments of Kiira Motors to her Colleague the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye.

Others present to witness the seamless handover were Prof. Henry Arinaitwe who represented the Vice Chancellor Makerere University, the Permanent Secretary MOSTI, Mr. David. O.O. Obong, the Executive Chairman of Kiira Motors Corporation, Hon. Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Tobgoa and the Chief Executive Officer of Kiira Motors, Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi. The Prime Minister said the symbolic handover was a testament to the cordial working relations among government ministries to foster economic growth and ensure the country is transformed to middle income status.

Trade Minister, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, reminded the meeting that Kiira Motors Corporation is a state enterprise which was incorporated under the Uganda Companies Act, 2012, to champion the development of the domestic automotive value chain for job and wealth creation in line with Uganda Vision 2040. The equity partners are government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation holding 96% of the initial stock and Makerere University holding 4%. She said that while under her ministry, Kiira Motors had registered major milestones that included the construction and installation of a 3.7km long 33kV medium voltage electricity line connecting the Kiira Vehicle Plant to the national electricity grid and installation of a 5.4km long 6-inch pipeline connecting the plant site to the Jinja municipal water supply system among others.

Mrs. Kyambadde who has been championing Uganda’s participation in the Africa Free Trade Area expressed confidence in the capabilities and organisational capacity of Kiira Motors Corporation under its new mother Ministry of Science Trade and Innovation to deliver on their promises to develop green mobility technologies that will be herald across the world. “Kiira Motors is on the right trajectory and it has all our support, “she stated.

Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye who is now superintending over the Kiira Motors national enterprise thanked President Yoweri Museveni for setting up the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation because it has given hope to Ugandan innovators who hitherto had no known home. He said that apart from setting up MOSTI, government has gone ahead to provide an innovation fund of shs.10bn for the Financial Year 2019/20 to support local innovators. The fund is expected to grow to a tune of shs.500bn.

Hon. Dr. Tumwesigye explained that the ministry will register all innovators across the country and set up a committee of experts who will select those innovators with innovations that can be commercialised to realise economic growth and national development. It is those selected innovators that will be funded and supported by Government. While briefing the meeting about the progress made by Kiira Motors, the company’s CEO Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi said that 324 Ugandans are being employed at the Kiira Vehicles Plant construction site in Jinja. He noted that the construction of Key Access Roads and the Start-Up Assembly Building are underway, with the latter at Substructure Level.

Musasizi expressed the importance of putting in place an automotive policy to regulate vehicle imports and exports, to ensure progressive enhancement of automotive local content participation through technology transfer, development and diffusion.

The writer is a media and communications consultant and advocate of the High Court of Ugandamsserwanga@gmail.com

UGANDA TO DEVELOP AUTOMOTIVE POLICY:MINISTER TUMWESIGYE RALLIES THE YOUTH TO BENEFIT FROM THE CAR PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The development of Uganda’s nascent automotive industry took yet another giant step when Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, inaugurated a eight member taskforce to draft the country’s first Automotive Industry Development  Policy .

At a colourful function held at the Ministry’s head office at Rumee Towers in Kampala , Dr. Tumwesigye seized the moment to rally Ugandans especially the youth to strategically position themselves to benefit from the abundant opportunities available along the car production value chain.

With the automotive market expected to hit 500,000 units (half a million cars)  bought every year in the East African Region alone by 2027, Dr. Tumwesigye noted that the industry will be one of Uganda’s and the region ‘s major economic drivers for many years to come.

Coupled with a rapid growing population not only in Uganda but the African continent at large and vast natural resources in Uganda like Iron Ore, Banana fiber and oil, the jovial minister hastened to add that innovative and productive Ugandans should prepare themselves to supply car parts and other services once Uganda goes  full throttle in the production of cars at a commercial scale. He emphasised  the need for a skilled human resource to ensure compliance to acceptable international standards .

The Kiira Vehicles Plant is being  constructed at the Jinja Industrial Park by the Uganda People’s Defence Force , (UPDF) under its business army -the National Enterprise Corporation ,NEC headed by Gen James Mugira and is slated to be completed by 2021.

The task force is mandated to conclude its  work in three months and is composed of experts who include ,Mr. Emmanuel  Freddie Mugunga , Under Secretary at The Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) who is also the Chairman , Eng Tony Bafirawala Kavuma, the Chief Executive Mechanical; Engineer at the Ministry of Works  and Vice Chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Emmanuel Mutahunga ,Commissioner External trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperative , Mr Moses Ogwapus Commisiner Tax Policy at the Ministry of Finance , Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Jacob Lumonya ,Prinicipal Executive Mechanical Engineer at ministry of Works and Transport, Mr. Richard Ebong , Manager Legal Metrology Department at Uganda Bureau of Standards,  Mr. Emmanuel  Omene Principal Economist Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation  and Paul Omara from the private sector and the Chief Executive officer of  Ngetta Tropical holdings Ltd..

.The committee will be supported by a secretariat headed by Mr. Paul Isaac musasizi ,the Chief Executive Officer , (CEO) of Kiira Motors ,the country’s flagship for cars made in Uganda  . Other memebrs of the secretariat are ,Arthur  Tumusiime Asiimwe, Allan Muhumuza, Pauline Korukundo and  Thatcher Nakimuli Mpanga .

Dr ,Abubakar Muhammad Moki, the Commissioner Policy Development at the Cabinet Secretariat told the Task Force members to draft  an automotive development policy that will be people centered and serve the interests of the citizen. “The policy should be informed and evidence based , widely consulted , to be inclusive and easily communicated to enable easy assess and compliance,” he stressed .

According to the Task Force ‘s chairman Mr. Mugunga , Uganda’s Automotive Development Policy is expected to make an important contribution to the transformation of the automotive industry , enabling increased value addition and local content participation while securing standardization and regulatory compliance by the value chain actors.

The taskforce will periodically report to the wider multi-sectoral stakeholder consultative forum to consider the developed policy proposals. The multi-sectoral stakeholder consultative forum chaired by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of science ,Technology and Innoation  shall include , Ministry of justice  and Constitutional Affairs, Kiira Motors Corporation , Uganda National Bureau of Standards ,Ministry of East Africa Community affairs, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development ,Ministry of Trade Industry and cooperatives ,Uganda Revenue Authority , Uganda National Roads Authority , Ministry of Works , Uganda Investment Authority , Uganda national bureau of Standards , Uganda Police force and the Ministry of Science Technology and innovation.

The writer is a media and communications consultant/trainer and

Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

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