King Mswati III of Eswatini, accompanied by his wife Queen Inkhosikati LaMashwama, and other high-level delegates, arrived in Uganda on August 14, 2024, for a three-day state visit at the invitation of President Yoweri Museveni. During their discussions at the State House in Entebbe attended by ministers from both countries, the leaders focused on creating a unified African market and political federation to enhance prosperity across the continent.
“We agreed that African nations must produce goods for larger markets, as Uganda’s market alone is inadequate for achieving our economic goals,” President Museveni stated. “Success in Africa depends on market integration, similar to the unified market in the United States. We should prioritize local production instead of relying on imports from countries like Japan.”
A highlight of King Mswati III’s visit was his courtesy tour of the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja, a state-of-the-art facility nearing completion on Thursday. The plant is a cornerstone of Uganda’s ambition to become a leader in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in Africa.
“We were honored to host King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini as we unveil Africa’s First e-Mobility expo,” wrote Kiira Motors in a post published on their X (formerly Twitter) page.
Kiira Motors Corporation, which operates the plant, aims to champion value addition in Uganda’s nascent motor vehicle industry, aligning with the broader goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 for economic development and sustainability.
Kiira Motor’s CEO and Chief Worker, Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi who guided the King showcased some of the EVs manufactured and assembled from the plant. His Majesty praised Uganda for undertaking such a significant project that is entirely African-owned and operated —and applauded Kiira Motors for championing e-Mobility in Africa.
He welcomed the proposal for a partnership between Uganda and Eswatini to localize the manufacture of vehicle components, which could position Africa as a global automotive hub.
President Museveni revealed Uganda’s plans to expedite the establishment of a hub in Eswatini to promote Kiira Motors Corporation’s “Kayoola EVS” electric buses in the SADC region, utilizing the Maputo harbour. This partnership comes at a time, for Africa as it looks to tackle the issues of climate change and urban pollution by implementing transportation solutions.
The King’s tour of the factory took place before the first Uganda e Mobility Expo, which aims to highlight Uganda’s potential in science innovation and explore the advancements in electric mobility solutions.
With the theme “The Future is Green; The Future is Now ” the e Mobility expo signifies a step in Uganda’s transition to embracing electric mobility. This shift holds promise for reducing the country’s carbon footprint creating economic opportunities and fostering innovation.
Currently producing 2,500 vehicles annually Kiira Vehicle Plant has plans to increase production to 5,000 vehicles. This ambitious growth plan demonstrates Kiira Motors’ dedication to shaping the future of transportation in Africa. The official launch of the Kiira vehicle plant is scheduled for October 8 this year marking a moment in Uganda’s journey, towards e-mobility.
