All set for Uganda’s inaugural Kiira Motors e-Mobility Expo this Friday

August 13, 2024 in Business, Companies, Science and Technology, Trade & Industry, Transport by Editor

Some 250 guests including 50 international visitors are expected to attend the first edition of the Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) e-Mobility Expo and Kiira Vehicle Plant (KVP) Open Day, which is slated for Friday August 16, at the automakers manufacturing facilities in Jinja.

Running under the theme The Future is Green; The Future is Now, the expo will gather over 200 industry leaders, policymakers, investors, innovators, and the public who will listen to discussions about the state of Uganda’s readiness to adapt to the e-mobility revolution and pathways to positioning the country as a net source of e-mobility solutions for Africa.

Billed as the first e-mobility expo to be held by an indigenous African automotive manufacturer on the continent, the organisers say the event aims to explore, showcase, and encourage the adoption of electric mobility solutions in Uganda.

“This expo marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s journey towards embracing sustainable Mobility as electric mobility offers immense potential for reducing the nation’s carbon footprint and creating new economic opportunities – all while encouraging local innovation. We are proud to host this inaugural event and showcase the innovations that will shape the future of mobility in our country,” says KMC chief executive officer,” Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi.

The centre-piece of the expo will be KMC’s expanded product line, featuring a variety of electric and conventional fuel-powered buses ranging from 8-12 metres in length. This will be complemented by exhibits by other players and innovations in the e-mobility space.

Among others, the event will also feature a series of fireside chats by key figures in the fields of e-financing and green infrastructure development.
According to researchers, the combination of Uganda’s population, (confirmed to be 45.9 million people in the latest census), rapid urbanisation and the mobility needs of this population have resulted in an unhealthy level of vehicular emissions, which are the leading cause of Kampala’s increased air pollution readings that jumped from an annual average of 39.5µg/m3 in 2019 to 41 µg/m3 in 2024.

These readings are about eight times above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended yearly average guideline of 5 µg/m3, which negatively impacts the health and well-being of Kampala residents, amplifying the need for green mobility solutions to reduce the country’s reliance on combustion engines for urban commuter and countryside travel.

“With a vision to see Uganda transition to e- mobility in public mass transport, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles, the Government is implementing the National e-Mobility Strategy – which looks to build an efficient and self- sustaining ecosystem. This event is a bold step towards further bringing together all the relevant players towards seeing this vision come to life to combat climate change and
enhance the quality of life for our citizens,” says Mr Allan Muhumuza, the Team Leader of the Mobility Bureau at the Secretariat of Science and Technology in the Office of the President.

The day will also double as the Kiira Vehicle Plant Open Day – during which several exhibitors will have varying products and services on display and for sale, including Innovex, Nexus Green, Green Hub, Karaa KaCyber Securities Ltd., and many more.

The Open Day will also allow attendees to tour the state-of-the-art Kiira Vehicle Plant – whose construction started in 2019 and is now nearing completion, ahead of its official commissioning in October this year, and at full capacity, will produce 5,000 vehicles annually.
The plant includes facilities like offices, Production Facilities, power and water distribution systems, waste management facilities, and vehicle test facilities.