Makerere University in partnership with Uganda’s automakers Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) and the United Nations Development Program(UNDP) have launched a comprehensive skilling program in electric mobility.
The one year E-mobility skilling program will start with 25 students drawn from disciplines that include mechanical engineering , physics ,software development , electrical and biomedical engineering .
The skilling program will provide foundational knowledge in electric vehicle technology and renewable energy systems, fostering innovation and practical skills among the selected students .
The initiative which is housed at Makerere University’s Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) and is gender inclusive ,will have students acquire specialized skills in electric vehicle technologies, engineering design among others . The Mak-UniPod, established by UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative, serves as a multidisciplinary innovation hub nurturing Uganda’s startup ecosystem.
“We are bridging the gap between innovation and market viability,” said Prof. sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, the Executive Chairman at Kiira Motors Corporation. “This program will create a critical human resource mass for the automotive industry,” added.
Prof. Tickodri-Togboa
The program further encompasses foundational knowledge in electric vehicle technology, renewable energy systems, battery cell technology, smart grid systems, and hands-on training with electric vehicle powertrains.
Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor , the Resident Representative, noted that with increased investment in Uganda’s E- mobility sector Uganda was in the right place and leading the E-mobility revolution and use of renewable energy in the region.
“This skilling program addresses several objectives , notably contributing to solutions for youth unemployment and creating green jobs in Uganda , ” she stated .
In a speech read for him by Prof Buyinza Mukadasi , the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe explained that the skilling program aims to empower students with skills that will bring about innovation in the E-mobility sector and contribute to Uganda economic growth and development .
Prof Buyinza Mukadasi
About KMC
The Kiira Motors Corporation Investment represents Uganda’s strategic endeavor to spur technological growth, environmental stewardship, job creation, and international competitiveness.
The Kiira Vehicle Plant (KVP) is a premium manufacturing complex positioned to serve the regional market with the best-in-class mobility products.
The KVP is the first of its kind in the region. It is the biggest, most capable and most competent bus manufacturing plant on the African Continent.
Therefore ,Kiira Vehicle Plant is more than just an industrial complex; it is a strategic investment that positions Uganda as a key player in the mobility industrial value chain, a sector recognized by the government of Uganda for its potential to drive economic transformation.
As a state enterprise , Kiira Motors Corporation is poised to contribute significantly to import substitution, job creation, technology transfer, and ultimately, the realization of Uganda’s vision to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2040.
