Uganda’s mobility flagship Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC)’s produced Kayoola 13 meter bus has arrived in Bostwana ‘s capital Gaborone-on its “Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition.
During this historic milestone the bus and crew were received by Uganda’s Ambassadors to Bostwana and South Africa , Kintu Nyago, and Paul Amoru , respectively ,who were joined by other embassy officials and the Ugandan community in Botswana.
Ambassador Nyago praised the expedition team for showcasing Uganda’s engineering excellence and resilience. He said that the Kayoola E-Coach successful journey ton Botswana has proved the world – Uganda’s ability to contribute to Africa’s green mobility agenda through homegrown innovation.
Ambassador Amoru commended all the stakeholders’ critical roles aimed at realizing the green mobility saying: “Africa must move from being a consumer of technology to a net exporter of technology”.
Lesego Thamae, Botswana’s Deputy PS at the Ministry of Communication and Transport spoke highly of the Kayoola Coach: “The Kayoola E-Coach in Gaborone is a living proof of Agenda 2063’s vision: a green, smart, and connected Africa. This Made-in-Africa innovation strengthens our resolve in Botswana to embrace sustainable mobility to create shared prosperity for the continent.”
Elias Bwambale, Kiira Motors Corporation’s Head of Mission, emphasized the urgent need for pan-African charging infrastructure:
“We have proven that African engineers can design and build a world-class electric coach that outperforms many global counterparts. But hardware alone is not enough. The real game-changer will be a harmonized, interoperable fast-charging network along Africa’s major transnational corridors.”
Officials from KMC said the successful entry into Botswana is a critical step in expanding Uganda’s footprint in the Southern African development community market.
The expedition serves as a powerful declaration of Uganda’s technological advancement and industrial leadership, presenting homegrown solutions that address continental challenges in mobility and climate change.
The journey, powered by the Kayoola Electric Coach 13M (Model 2025), manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), is a rolling exhibition of African ingenuity, proving that locally-designed technology is reliable and scalable for long-distance, cross-border use.
This mission is positioned to activate new regional markets, position Uganda as a hub for high-value manufacturing, and reinforce a Pan-African vision for industrial resilience and unity.
The successful expedition thus far ,is a living testimony about the commercial viability of Kiira Motor’s electric buses -built for the African terrain and climate conditions.
While flagging off the bus the first of a kind in East and Central Africa, Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, said that expedition was a demonstrated initiative to showcase the country’s tried ,tested and proved capabilities to produced electric buses that competitive on the global automotive market.
“This expedition is not just about driving a vehicle across borders; it is about driving Uganda’s capacity, skill and ambition onto the world stage,” Katumba Wamala said at the flag-off in Kampala.
Monica Musenero, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasised that the Kayoola E-Coach was a symbol of African self-reliance and technological progress.
“This bus represents years of research, innovation and belief in what Ugandans can achieve. It is proof that Africa can design, build and deliver world-class solutions for its own challenges,” Musenero said.
The expedition
The Kayoola E-Coach has now covered thousands of kilometres (out of the expected 13, 000 kilometres) without major mechanical issues, reinforcing confidence in Uganda’s capability to develop sustainable transport solutions suitable for long-distance and cross-border use, officials said.
From Botswana, the expedition will proceed to South Africa and end at Cape Town.
The Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition is a powerful symbol of Africa’s ambition and resilience. As the Kayoola Electric Coach traverses the continent, it carries a core message: African solutions can solve African challenges, redefining the future of transport, climate action, and industrial growth.
