Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a locally developed firefighting vehicle, dubbed the Muliro Eater, before ambassadors from the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and member states of the European Union.
During a special presentation, the President showcased the prototype as a demonstration of Uganda’s growing capacity to produce innovative solutions to global challenges.
Museveni explained that his inspiration for the vehicle came from frequently watching on television as fires ravaged towns and regions around the world.
“This inspired me to combine our African firefighting tactics with military tank technology to create a fire-eating vehicle,” he said.
The Muliro Eater, designed with heavy-duty capacity, is intended to respond to large-scale fire disasters that often overwhelm conventional fire engines.
The envoys present included; Russia’s Vladlen Semivolos, US’ William Popp, UK High Commissioner Lisa Chesney and EU’s Jan Sadek.
According to Museveni, the vehicle not only represents a practical tool for disaster response but also underscores Uganda’s ability to harness indigenous knowledge and adapt military technology for civilian use.
“I hope that our international partners will embrace this proposal and, in time, become clients of this Ugandan innovation,” the President noted, adding that the initiative is part of Uganda’s commitment to philanthropy and to promoting African innovations globally.
The unveiling comes at a time when governments worldwide are under pressure to strengthen their disaster management systems in the face of climate change, urbanization, and industrial risks.
If adopted, Uganda’s Muliro Eater could mark a new chapter in the export of African-designed technologies to the international market.
