Bold claim: Uganda’s homegrown electric buses are not just a national pride—they’re marching across Africa’s highways toward real regional impact. The journey continues, and this is where the story gets truly interesting. And this is the part most people miss: the cross-border potential of locally manufactured mobility solutions hinges on sustained performance, collaborative policy support, and scalable manufacturing—factors that will determine whether this mission reshapes Africa’s transport landscape or remains a high-profile test run.
Uganda’s Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) and its partners announced on December 2 that the Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition has successfully reached Botswana, marking a notable milestone in Uganda’s drive to showcase homegrown electric mobility on the continent.
According to a news release, the fully electric Kayoola E-Coach arrived in Francistown. The Ugandan Ambassador to Botswana, Kintu Nyago, welcomed the team alongside members of the Ugandan community and diplomatic staff. This reception signals a meaningful moment for Uganda’s burgeoning electric-vehicle sector as the expedition heads toward Gaborone for meetings with government and private-sector leaders.
The expedition began in Kampala on November 20 with an ambitious, multi-country route designed to prove the performance, durability, and commercial viability of Uganda-crafted electric buses under Africa’s diverse terrain and climate.
Officials noted the cross-border demonstration is intended to catalyze broader industrial, innovation, and green-transport agendas within Uganda and beyond.
In Kampala, government officials voiced strong support for the mission. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, called the expedition a turning point for Uganda’s manufacturing sector, arguing it proves the country can compete on the global automotive stage. “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,” he said at the flag-off.
Monica Musenero, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, framed the Kayoola E-Coach as a symbol of African self-reliance and technological progress, noting that it embodies years of research, innovation, and belief in Ugandan capabilities. “This bus represents what Africans can design, build, and deliver for its own challenges,” she affirmed.
Upon arrival in Francistown, Ambassador Nyago lauded the expedition team for showcasing Uganda’s engineering excellence and resilience. He emphasized that the Kayoola E-Coach’s presence in Botswana reinforces Uganda’s ability to contribute to Africa’s green-mobility agenda through homegrown innovation. Ugandan professionals living in Botswana also joined the celebrations, viewing the expedition as a source of pride and inspiration for the diaspora.
The expedition’s organizers described Botswana’s reception as a critical step toward expanding Uganda’s footprint in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market. The Kayoola E-Coach has already logged thousands of kilometres—well short of the projected 13,000—without major mechanical issues, underscoring confidence in Uganda’s capacity to develop durable, long-range, cross-border transport solutions, according to officials.
From Botswana, the convoy is expected to proceed to South Africa for further demonstrations, stakeholder engagements, and exhibitions, with the journey slated to conclude in Cape Town.
Officials from KMC and its partners maintain that Uganda’s electric-mobility vision is now moving under its own power, spreading gradually but decisively across the African continent.
