JINJA- Building the first ever indigenous motor vehicle industry for job and wealth creation in Uganda is not only a daunting task but it is a job Kiira Motors Corporation has elected to grab by the horns.
In the quest to build a green and circular economy, Uganda’s Kiira Motors Corporation is leading the way from Uganda’s Industrial City of Jinja.
Industrialization is one of Uganda Government’s top priorities to transform Uganda into a middle-income economy through import substitution and export-oriented production to enhance household incomes and improve the quality of life of all Ugandans.
The idea to have produce products previously imported is one that President Yoweri Museveni has been pushing in order for Uganda to realize an integrated and self-sustaining economy that was promised when the current National Resistance Movement (NRM) party shot its way into power in 1986.
So how has the government taken definitive steps towards realization of this dream?
According to information available so far, streamlining skilling and upskilling of the youth coupled with opening domestic and regional markets to guarantee demand is key to deepening value addition, and supporting the mineral-led industrialisation agenda for import substitution and export promotion.
In keeping track of this dream, the Kiira Motors Corporation CEO, Isaac Paul Musasizi says the Kiira Vehicle Plant will be operationalized by 31st December 2021 to produce and deliver the much needed buses for modernization of Uganda’s mass transit systems. We are working with Tondeka Metro and RentCo Africa with Golden Dragon as the Technology Partner to produce 30,000 Buses at the Kiira Vehicle Plant for the Regional Market, with 65% Parts and Components Localized by 2030.
“The first phase is premised to produce and deploy 1,030 Buses by mid-2022, 50 of which will be Electric with the aim of Modernizing Public Transport in the Urban Centers in Uganda and beyond,” he says.
According to figures this website has obtained from the corporation, the motor vehicle market is growing steadily with regional vehicle sales anticipated to reach over 630,000 vehicles annually for EAC and 10 million vehicles annually on the African Continent by 2030. This presents an opportunity to position Uganda as a leader in Automotive Manufacturing in the region.
Mid this week, the newly appointed Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Dr Monica Musenero, visited the plant in the eastern city of Jinja to acquaint herself with the progress ahead of President Yoweri Museveni’s expected visit in the coming days.
“Building the indigenous motor vehicle industry provides an unprecedented opportunity for promoting value addition to Uganda’s mineral and other natural resources with the view of import substitution and export promotion of motor vehicles, vehicle parts, components and systems,” says Musasizi shortly before the minister arrived.
In a chat with selected media practitioners, he revealed that in April 2018, Cabinet of the Republic of Uganda approved the roadmap and seed fund for the establishment of the Kiira Vehicle Plant on 100 acres of land at the Uganda Investment Authority Jinja Industrial and Business Park.
“Kiira Motors is now developing long-term technology partnerships to build core capabilities to develop, make, and sell motor vehicles and components in Africa premised on 5 Pillars of People, Plant, Products, Mobility Infrastructure and Policy,” he says matter-of-factly.
The sustainability of the Kiira Motors’ operations is premised on optimal utilisation of infrastructure, facilities and resources seasoned with relevant application of Industry 4.0+ tools and technologies so that a robust, competitive and sustainable automotive industry producing half a million vehicles annually is built with 65% local content by 2030. With the presidential directive prohibiting importation of fully built buses including Lorries and pick-ups, Musasizi thinks the target will be possible.