Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) has revealed Uganda’s inaugural electric mobility expo alongside an open house event at the Kiira Vehicle Plant (KVP). The expo is scheduled for Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja, running from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Held under the theme “The Future is Green; The Future is Now,” this pioneering event aims to explore, showcase, and promote the adoption of electric mobility solutions in Uganda. The Kiira Vehicle Open House and E-Mobility Expo 2024 will bring together over 200 industry leaders, potential customers, suppliers, policymakers, investors, innovators, and the public to discuss Uganda’s readiness for the e-mobility revolution and its potential to become a key player in Africa’s e-mobility sector.
Paul Musasizi, CEO of Kiira Motors Corporation, stated, “This expo represents a crucial step in Uganda’s transition to electric mobility, which holds significant promise for reducing our carbon footprint, generating new economic opportunities, and fostering innovation. We are excited to host this groundbreaking event and display the innovations that will drive the future of mobility in our country.”
The expo will feature a series of fireside chats with experts on topics such as e-financing, carbon trading, energy, and e-mobility infrastructure development. The recent census revealed Uganda’s population stands at 45.9 million people.
With the rise in urbanization, the growing mobility demands have led to increased vehicular emissions, contributing to Kampala’s worsening air pollution. Air pollution levels, which averaged 39.5 micrograms of pollutant matter per cubic meter in 2019, have risen to 41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. This is eight times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, adversely affecting public health, particularly in urban areas. This situation underscores the need for e-mobility solutions, which could also improve the national energy balance. Currently, Uganda imports energy and vehicles costing approximately USD 2 billion and USD 730 million annually, respectively.
Allan Muhumuza, Team Leader of the Mobility Bureau in the Secretariat of Science and Technology in the Office of the President, stated, “With the goal of transitioning Uganda to e-mobility in public transport, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles, the government is implementing a national e-mobility strategy aimed at creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. This event is a significant step towards uniting all key stakeholders to realize this vision, combat climate change, and enhance citizens’ quality of life.”
The Kiira Vehicle Plant currently has the capacity to produce 2,500 vehicles per year, with plans to increase this to 5,000 vehicles annually in the near future, positioning Uganda as a major provider of mobility solutions in Africa.
