Kiira Motors secures UGX 930 billion contract to export electric buses to South Africa ‎ -

‎Kiira Motors Corp. has secured a contract to supply 820 electric buses to South Africa, a deal expected to generate $250 million in revenue for the state-owned mobility enterprise.

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‎Monica Musenero Masanza, the minister of science, technology and innovation, announced the agreement yesterday, noting that the signed export contracts mark a significant expansion for Uganda’s domestic automotive industry. While Musenero did not name the specific purchasing companies, she indicated that the orders follow the successful 7,125-kilometer expedition of the Kayoola E-Coach from Kampala to Cape Town in late 2025.

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‎The minister said the corporation is seeking $143 million in additional funding to fulfill these orders and scale production. Once the capital is secured, the manufacturing plant in the Jinja Industrial Park will begin a ramp-up phase. The facility was designed to produce nine buses a day, with a long-term goal of increasing capacity to 22 units daily.

‎In addition to the South African export deal, Musenero reported a surge in domestic interest. Local transport operators have reportedly expressed interest in thousands of additional units after demonstrations proved the viability of electric vehicles in the Ugandan climate.

‎Kiira Motors is currently partnering with Tondeka Metro, RentCo Africa and technology partner Golden Dragon. The group aims to produce 30,000 buses for the regional market by 2030, with a goal of localizing 65% of the parts and components.

‎The delivery timeline for the current orders is estimated between six and 12 months. Although the company is sourcing many raw materials locally, Musenero noted that certain components, including automotive steel and specialized paints, must still be imported.