Published on 26/09/2025
President Museveni has today commissioned the main assembly plant of Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), a multi-million-dollar facility marking a major step in Uganda’s Uganda’s automotive and industrial journey
Sitting on 100 acres and developed since 2019, the plant was designed to produce up to 2,500 vehicles per year as part of the government’s Vision 2040 agenda to drive industrialization, technological advancement, and sustainable growth.
Situated within the Jinja Industrial and Business Park, it stands as East Africa’s first large-scale automobile assembly facility. With an annual capacity of 1,500 buses, the factory will manufacture both electric and low-emission diesel models, positioning Uganda at the forefront of green and sustainable mobility on the continent.
The project has been implemented through partnerships with the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and other state agencies under the guidance of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Speaking during the launch on Friday, President Museveni commended the project as a milestone for technological innovation, skills development, and economic self-reliance.
“This facility demonstrates our commitment to building a self-sustaining economy. We are not only going to assemble vehicles here but also gradually integrate local content, ensuring that Ugandans are at the forefront of automotive innovation,” he said.
According the President, Uganda’s economy is currently expanding at a rate of 7 percent and is projected to surpass 10 percent once oil production begins and as part of the government’s long-term development vision, there are also plans to add value to vast iron ore deposits in Kabale and Butogota by producing high-quality steel locally.
The President further noted that this initiative is expected to cut reliance on steel imports, which cost Uganda more than $900 million annually, while positioning the nation as a competitive player in the regional steel industry.
Kiira Motors CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi noted that the plant is designed not only to tackle Kampala’s urban transport challenges, such as congestion, but also to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the automotive value chain.
“Kiira Motors represents a bold step toward reducing dependence on vehicle imports, strengthening local manufacturing, and accelerating the shift to clean energy transportation,” Musasizi said.
Beyond bus production, the plant will anchor future expansions, with plans already underway to add electric motorcycles, hybrid sedans, and delivery vans to its portfolio. Once running at full capacity, it is expected to strengthen regional supply networks, boost skills training, and raise Uganda’s profile as an exporter in the automotive sector.
Government officials believe the launch of the facility will modernize public transport, reduce carbon emissions, and help Uganda honor its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Formed in 2014 as a state enterprise, Kiira Motors has been at the forefront of local automotive innovation, having developed prototypes such as the Kayoola EVS electric bus and the Kiira EV, Uganda’s first electric vehicle.
During the event, President Museveni will tour the production lines and deliver a keynote address on the role of innovation and manufacturing in advancing Uganda’s development.
