Ugandan automaker KMC gets inaugural board ahead of start of manufacturing activities

May 14, 2021 in Business, Companies, Technology & Telecoms, Trade & Industry, Transport by Editor

The Kayoola KDC, rolling out of the temporary assembly facility at Luwero Industries

Uganda’s automotive startup Kiira Motors KMC, has been assigned a 13-member Board of Directors, months ahead of the completion of its initial assembly facility in Jinja.

Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, unveiled the board led by technology and innovation veteran Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri, who will be the Executive Chairman

Other members include David Omara Oleke Obong the PS MoSTI, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, the Ag. University Secretary at Makerere, KMC chief executive Paul Isaac Musasizi, Basil Ajer- a director at MoSTI, Ronald Rwankangi, Rev. Sister Mary Grace Akiror, Aisha Naiga, Eng. Henry Alinaitwe, Christine Sekyana, Yudaya Babirye and Dr. Charles Barugahare.

Dr. Tumwesigye tasked the board “to be the champions of building of an indigenous motor vehicle industry in Uganda while ensuring that you collectively direct the company’s affairs, while meeting the interests of the shareholders and other key stakeholders.”

The automaker’s pioneer board is also expected to ensure the commercialization of the company’s innovations and products for import substitution, and creation of opportunities for millions of Ugandans across the automotive industry value chain.

“We look forward to seeing Ugandan made vehicles driven across the African continent and elsewhere in the world and have Kiira Motors listed on the stock exchange,” Dr. Tumwesigye said.

According to the minister, KMC should make the most of a recent directive by president Museveni to stop the importation of buses fully assembled buses.

An immediate opportunity for KMC is in the African Development Bank supported Kampala mass transit project that requires 50 Electric Buses and 980 conventional Diesel-powered buses.

Kiira Motors is owned 96pc by the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation with Makerere University holding 4pc of the stock.

The initial assembly facilities in Jinja are close to 90pc complete with tooling and initial assembly expected in the next 12 months.

So far, KMC has assembled three buses – two electric and one diesel powered- from temporary assembly facilities at Nakasongola based Luwero Industries.