JINJA- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will anytime from now lay the foundations stone for the country’s premier vehicle manufacturing and assembling plant in the eastern city of Jinja.
Works on the Kiira Motors Vehicle plant have been ongoing for months and are expected to end by close of the year to allow for commercial production of buses at the facility run by the government owned Kiira Motors Corporation.
Progress at the plant stood at 85% as of July 2021.
Allan Muhumuza, the Kiira Motors Corporation’s Director Marketing and Sales tells MediaScape News that the president is expected at around 10:00am, according to a scheduled programme.
“H.E is laying the foundation stone at the Kiira Vehicle Plant, a testament of his support and visionary leadership towards building the indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry in Uganda,” Allan says..
He adds: “This is a great milestone in the journey of Kiira Motors, a pathfinder project pioneering the process of moving from academia to industry with a commercial product. This continues to highlight the emerging “Knowledge Economy” which H.E has championed and nurtured.”.
The visit will also see other high level invited guests from the government of Uganda, the private sector, local leaders and officials from the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (who run the plant) and the supervising Ministry of Science Technology and Innovations.
Background:
Kiira Motors Corporation or KMC is a State Enterprise in Uganda established to champion the Development of the Domestic Automotive Value Chain for job and wealth creation and commercialize the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, the first of its kind to be made on the African continent. The Equity Partners are the Government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Office of the President holding 96% of the initial stock and Makerere University holding 4%.
According to internet sources, Africa’s first electric vehicle was developed under the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project in 2011. KMC developed Africa’s first hybrid vehicle, the Kiira EVS, in 2014 and Africa’s first solar electric bus, the Kayoola Solar Bus in 2016.
KMC’s market entry products are the Kayoola EVS, a Fully Electric Low Floor City Bus with a range of 300 kilometers on a full charge and the Kayoola Diesel Coach, a premium highway coach.
The KMC journey dates back to 2007; evolving from an extra-curricular activity under the auspices of then Makerere University Faculty of Technology, to a university curricular activity and later a mainstream national initiative for automotive manufacturing. In 2007, a global consortium of over 31 universities and colleges across the world took part in a Vehicle Design Summit (VDS) to design and bring to market a 5-Seater plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Vision 200, targeting the Indian market.
Under the United States-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology led three-year project, Uganda’s Makerere University was the only participant from Africa. The team from the Faculty of Technology now College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology was responsible for design and integration of the Low Power Electronics and Data Networking Systems.
Given the experience in building the Vision 200, other global experiences through collaborations, and best practices benchmarking, the Makerere team resolved to embark on a project aimed at designing and building a vehicle in Uganda.
The Center for Research in Transport Technologies (CRTT) was then conceived under Makerere University in December 2008 and approved as part of the University Structures effective 1 January 2011. The strategic goal of CRTT was to advance research and innovation in transportation technologies on land, air and sea with specific emphasis on green mobility solutions for Africa.
The Kiira EV Project was the first project implemented under CRTT. The Kiira EV, Africa’s first electric vehicle, was completed by the team and launched by H.E Yoweri Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, on 24 November 2011.
The successful execution of the Kiira EV Project led to the establishment of the Kiira Motors Project as a government initiative for Automotive Industry Development aimed at Establishing a Vehicle Plant in Uganda. The Kiira Motors Project started the Kiira Vehicle Technology Innovation Program through which the Kiira EV SMACK, the first Electric Hybrid Vehicle designed and built in Africa, was developed and unveiled at a very high-profile event at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2014.
The team then designed and built the Kayoola Solar Bus, the first Electric Solar Bus designed and built in Africa. The Kayoola Solar Bus was launched by H.E Yoweri Museveni on 16 February 2016 at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
Kiira Motors conducted a Pre-Investment Analysis (The KMC Business Case) to affirm the viability of Vision Vehicles Made in Uganda. This informed the development of the Kiira Motors Corporation Business Strategy and subsequently Business Plan.
The Vehicles:
The Kayoola Diesel Coach
This premium intercity bus aimed at addressing the need for a novel and innovative transportation solution that meets the demand for comfortable, long-distance mass transportation in Africa.
The Kayoola Diesel Coach is powered by a 6-cylinder turbocharged inter-cooled Cummins engine, providing over 375 horsepower, and able to achieve a top speed of 140km/hr.
The Kayoola EVS:
This is a Fully Electric Low Floor Bus specifically designed for Urban Mass Transportation. At full charge, the Kayoola EVS has a range of up to 300 kilometers making it capable of seamlessly handling the daily duty cycle. With a sitting capacity of up to 90 passengers, the Kayoola EVS is positioned to offer great returns for the bus operator while enabling the reduction in congestion on the city roads.
The Kiira EV Smack:
This is a 5-seater front-wheel drive sedan with a traction motor powered by a rechargeable battery bank and an internal combustion engine-based generator. It is the first Electric Hybrid Vehicle designed and built in Africa. This configuration of two power sources ensures an unlimited range and increases the efficiency of the powertrain, hence enhancing fuel economy. The Kiira EV is Africa’s first electric vehicle launched on 24th November 2011.
The Kayoola Solar Bus:
This is a concept model that represents the next generation of public transport for cities within the region. The first of its kind on the African continent, the Kayoola Solar bus relies on lithium-ion batteries to power an electric motor that is coupled to a 2-speed pneumatic shift transmission. This technology serves to conserve the environment and public health.
The Kiira EVS:
This 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 Commercial Opportunity:
KMC in collaboration with Tondeka Metro Co. Ltd, plans to produce over 1000 buses to ease traffic congestion around Uganda’s major cities and supply the regional market by the end of the year 2022.
The ProgrammeList of Invited Guests