Jinja, Uganda – Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Office of the President has visited the Kiira Vehicle Plant Site, Jinja Industrial and Business Park. She was received by Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, Executive Chairman Kiira Motors Corporation; Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Managing Director National Enterprise Corporation; the Chairman of Technology Consults Ltd and Strategic Private Sector Partners from the Transport, Energy, Telecommunications, Banking, Insurance, and Finance Sectors including Tondeka Metro Co. Ltd, RentCo Africa, UBA Bank, Absa, DFCU Bank, Stanbic Bank, Mercantile Bank, TOTAL Uganda, VIVO Energy, MOGAS, Hardware World, Airtel, MTN among others.
The Construction of the Kiira Vehicle Plant is undertaken by the UPDF through National Enterprise Corporation with Technology Consults as the supervising consultant exemplifying the visionary leadership of H.E. the President in the development of the local capacity to undertake strategic Government projects. The works commenced in February 2019 with the progress at 85% as of July 2021 on schedule to be operationalized by 31st December 2021 to produce and deliver the much-needed buses for modernization of Uganda’s Mass Transit Systems. Kiira Motors Corporation is currently utilizing the facilities and resources at the UPDF National Enterprise Corporation Luweero Industries in Nakasongola to build two Kayoola EVS buses and one Kayoola Diesel Coach by October 2021.
The strategic investment toward the establishment of the Kiira Vehicle Plant on 100 acres of land at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park has drawn interest by a wide range of actors for participation in building the Indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry. Kiira Motors Corporation has built synergies with the Private Sector and Development Partners to explore sustainable multisectoral backward, forward, and lateral linkages which are pivotal in promoting local content participation in building the Indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry in Uganda.
The establishment of the Kiira Vehicle Plant is poised to catapult Kiira Motors Corporation along a sustainable growth trajectory cognizant of the disruptive industry vehicle technologies including Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric Vehicle Technologies. This will promote and catalyze the shift to environmentally friendly transport solutions which will go a long way in improving sustainable energy consumption, air quality and demonstrate Uganda’s commitment to enhanced environmental stewardship.
Kiira Motors Corporation is working with Tondeka Metro, RentCo Africa, and 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. Kiira Motors and the Partners plan to produce and deploy 1,030 Buses by mid-2022, 50 of which will be Electric. The initiative is aimed at Modernizing Public Transport in the Urban Centers in Uganda and beyond while building the Indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry through Technology Transfer and Supply Chain Localization. The Mass Transit Bus System (MTBS) will operate in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area within the radius of 25-30km along gazette routes and is estimated to move approximately 600,000 people per day while adhering to the Ministry of Health guidelines on COVID-19 and 1,500,000 people per day on a business-as-usual scenario. Payments for tickets will be made through an end-to-end cashless ticketing system integrated with Mobile Money (Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, and Afrimoney), Visa, Mastercard, and Union Pay.
The Mass Transit Bus System is expected to improve passenger boarding and alighting times and reduce overall waiting and travel times to between 30 minutes to one hour on each trip as compared to the current taxi system travel/waiting time of over 1.3 hours while also reducing annual expenditure off individual disposable incomes on transportation within GKMA by up to 80%. There will be improved revenue collection for taxi operators at the first and last mile through the Tondeka Taxi Owners Feeder Road Scheme that will enable integration into the Tondeka Cashless Ticketing and Payment System for a seamless commuter experience. Sustainable industrialization of Uganda’s economy forms the essence of the country’s Vision 2040, and the Third National Development Plan (NDP III). Successful industrialization is hinged on the development of the key industrial sectors including the automotive industry through import substitution/promotion of local manufacturing and mineral-based industrialization. Building the Indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry is consistent with Uganda’s aspirations and pathways to Vision 2040 outlined in the National Development Plan III and the NRM Manifesto 2021 – 2026. Specifically, (1) Promotion of Local Manufacturing of Motor Vehicles; (2) Establishment of Efficient, Integrated, Sustainable, Safe and Inclusive Public Transport System(s); and (3) Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Transport Solutions. It 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 vehicles, parts, components, and systems.
Building the Indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry is projected to create over 100,000 jobs directly and indirectly in the medium term including but not limited to Engineers, IT Specialists, Planners, Welders, Painters, Designers, Architects, Lawyers, Financial Analysts, Accountants, Economists, Logistics and Supply Chain Practitioners, Auditors, Human Resources Personnel, Sales Executives, Marketers, Machine Operators, Drivers, Stewards and Cleaners.
ENDS
For additional information contact the Chief Executive Officer
Plot 13, Kimera Raod, Ntinda, Kampala
Web: www.kiiramotors.com
Email: ceo@kiiramotors.com
Tel: +256 393 517888
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn: Kiira Motors
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ABOUT KIIRA MOTORS CORPORATION
Kiira Motors Corporation is a State Enterprise established to champion value addition in the nascent Motor Vehicle Industry in Uganda through Technology Transfer, Contract Manufacturing, and Supply Chain Localization. This strategic intervention is poised to contribute to the industrialization agenda envisaged to aid the transformation of Uganda into an upper-middle-income economy by 2040. Kiira Motors Corporation is developing long-term technology partnership(s) to build core capabilities to Develop, Make, and Sell motor vehicles and components in Africa on a mission to build a better Uganda through Automotive Technology. The Strategic Technology Partnership(s) are premised on 4+1 pillars of People, Plant, Products, Mobility Infrastructure and Policy founded on strategies developed and shaped by the realities and characteristics of the target market in Uganda and Africa. The sustainability of the KMC operations is premised on optimal utilization of infrastructure, facilities, and resources seasoned with relevant application of Industry 4.0+ tools and technologies within the context of a circular economy. The Shareholders of Kiira Motors Corporation are The Government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry responsible for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Office of the President (96%), and Makerere University (4%).
4th August 2021
