The Private Sector Foundation Uganda ,(PSFU) will partner with Uganda’s automakers Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) to facilitate linkages for value addition and parts localization in Uganda’s nascent automotive industry , the organization’s top boss -Mr. Stephen Asiimwe has stated .
Asiimwe said that with the global value of the automotive industry expected to hit 19 Trillion US Dollars , it was imperative for all stakeholders to actively participate in the successful commercialization of Kiira Motor’s world class products . Already, Uganda’s car production champions -Kiira Motors have deployed the Kayoola EVS buses that are now offering shuttle services for the staff of Civil Aviation Authorities . Kiira Motors is also taking orders to supply buses for both government and the private sector .
Asiimwe also pledged that PSFU under its Young Africa Works program -will work with Kiira Motors to skill a critical mass of young Ugandans- to be job ready as the country’s car production industry takes-off. PSFU intends to skill some 300,000 young Ugandans in the different sectors of the economy .
Kiira Motors has already embarked on a massive skilling program for Ugandans -ahead of -its mass commercial production of vehicles at their Vehicle Plant in Jinja.
KMC CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi, PSFU ED Stephen Asiimwe and Apollo Muyanja a technical officer at PSFU during a tour of the Kiira Vehicle Plant
At least 50 new KMC staff are now undergoing an intensive skills training program at Luwero Industries in Nakasongola where Uganda’s automakers are building buses for the local and regional markets .
The bus chassis and frame localization training of the initial group of 50 factory workers will last at least three months and the lucky selected Ugandans were all but excited about the opportunity to build and produce -vehicles made in Uganda.
Asiimwe – the new PSFU Executive Director led a team of technical officers who toured the Kiira Vehicle Plant (KVP) at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park. Other PSFU officials who visited the KVP included ,Mr. Ronny Mulongo, Appollo Muyanja Mbazira, Ronald Kirunda, Daniel Ozimai and Catharine Musoke .
The Kiira Motors Corporation CEO , Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi received the PSFU team and took them on a guided tour of the plant which is set to produce 22 buses per day and 5,000 annually .
Mr. Musasizi said that with availability of funds the KMC skilling program will be scaled -up to train over 1,000 Ugandans including women – every three months -to create a critical mass of skilled labour -force for rapid development in the automotive industry and other related sectors.
“ The trainees are given skills that make them employable even in other sectors such as the oil pipeline construction and furniture industry,” Musasizi stated .
