Uganda’s electric vehicle ambitions are steadily gaining international recognition after the Kingdom of Eswatini completed a comprehensive five-day inspection of Kiira Motors Corporation, a move widely seen as a major step toward the acquisition of Uganda’s locally manufactured Kayoola electric buses. The development highlights Uganda’s growing influence in Africa’s transition to clean and sustainable transport.The high-level delegation, led by Eswatini’s Principal Secretary for Public Works and Transport, Thulani Mkhaliphi, spent five days assessing Kiira Motors’ manufacturing capacity, engineering expertise, quality control systems and production processes.
The exercise was designed to determine whether the Ugandan company can meet Eswatini’s requirements before a final procurement decision is made.The visit builds on the strong diplomatic ties established during King Mswati III’s visit to Uganda in 2024 and follows the successful Pearl to the Cape Expedition, during which Uganda’s Kayoola electric buses travelled more than 14,000 kilometres across several African countries, including Eswatini. The journey demonstrated the buses’ durability and strengthened confidence in Uganda’s homegrown technology.During the mission, the delegation also met officials from the Office of the President’s Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat, where Uganda’s strategy of using innovation, research and industrialisation to transform the economy was presented. Electric mobility was highlighted as one of the country’s priority sectors for driving economic growth and regional exports.
At Kiira Motors’ vehicle manufacturing plant in Jinja, the visitors closely examined assembly operations, engineering workshops, testing facilities, quality assurance procedures and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The inspection offered a detailed picture of Uganda’s ability to manufacture modern electric buses that can compete on the African market.Mkhaliphi commended Uganda for investing in local innovation and boldly showcasing its technology beyond its borders. He described Kiira Motors as an inspiring example of how government support can help transform university research into a thriving industrial enterprise capable of serving regional markets.
The delegation expanded its assessment by visiting the Made in Uganda One-Stop Centre at the UMA Show Grounds, as well as electric mobility firms Spiro Uganda and E-Bee. The visits focused on understanding Uganda’s wider electric mobility ecosystem, including battery-swapping technology, local assembly, technical training, value addition and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The successful conclusion of the assessment has opened the door for closer cooperation between Uganda and Eswatini in transport, manufacturing, renewable energy, trade and investment. Should Eswatini proceed with the purchase, it would represent a major export breakthrough for Kiira Motors and further establish Uganda as one of Africa’s rising leaders in electric vehicle manufacturing.
