Eswatini Explores Procurement of Ugandan-Made Electric Buses

JINJA, Uganda – A high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini has visited the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja to explore the procurement of Ugandan-made buses and deepen bilateral cooperation in sustainable mobility, automotive manufacturing, and industrial development.

The strategic visit brought together officials from Eswatini and executives of Kiira Motors Corporation to assess Uganda’s vehicle manufacturing capabilities and identify areas for collaboration in electric mobility, technology transfer, research and development, and regional distribution.

The engagement builds on commitments made during King Mswati III’s 2024 State Visit to Uganda and follows the successful Pearl-to-Cape Electric Expedition, which demonstrated the potential for cross-border electric mobility across Africa.

During a guided tour of the Kiira Vehicle Plant, the delegation was taken through the company’s vehicle production processes, engineering systems, quality assurance procedures, and testing facilities. Kiira Motors engineers also showcased the corporation’s range of electric city buses and long-distance coaches designed for African transport needs.

Company officials highlighted the plant’s current production capacity of 2,500 vehicles annually, with plans to scale up output to 10,000 vehicles per year as demand grows across the continent.

Kiira Motors also outlined its broader vision of establishing an integrated electric mobility ecosystem that includes charging infrastructure, battery localisation, smart mobility technologies, and comprehensive after-sales support to accelerate the transition to clean transport in Africa.

The Eswatini delegation was given an opportunity to experience the buses’ passenger amenities, including climate control, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB charging ports, accessibility features for persons with disabilities, and optional onboard restrooms for long-distance travel.

The visit underscores growing regional interest in Uganda’s emerging automotive industry and reflects increasing efforts by African countries to collaborate on locally manufactured, environmentally sustainable transport solutions as part of broader industrialisation and regional integration initiatives.