TECH: First Uganda-built car to be out by 2018 – Official by Billwydad Wangai

Uganda's Kiira EV

Uganda’s first locally assembled vehicle, known as Kiira Motors will be on the market in 2018, as was revealed here on Monday as Kiira Motors Limited presented their business plan for the assembling of the vehicle.

In his business case presentation, Chris Kattola, the Chief Engineer of National Instruments, a US-based vehicle parts manufacturer, said the Kiira vehicle project was not only feasible but necessary for Uganda. He said the first Kiira vehicle should be manufactured by 2018 and the project should break-even by 2023.

The vehicle is a joint venture between Makerere University and the government of Uganda, with seed funding from the Presidential Innovation Fund. They were boosted by a team of consultants and advisers namely RLE International and National Instruments from the United States, Arup Group from the United Kingdom, Automotive Investment Holdings from South Africa and Valmet from Finland.

Kattola said once established, the car industry in Uganda would have enough market. Uganda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said the Ugandan government would fully support the project.

The Kiira car project was conceived in 2007 by students in the College of Engineering, Design and Art of Makerere University.