Kiira Motors seeks UGX524 billion to fund 5-year plan

Peter 25th Mar, 2024 Industry Pedson Mumbere
Kiira Motors seeks UGX524 billion to fund 5-year plan

HI-TECH: Some of the Kiira Motors buses on the road. The corporation hopes to build a capacity of producing 22 buses per day. FILE PHOTO/BUSINESS EDGE


Kiira Motors Corporation, a budding indigenous vehicle building enterprise, has presented a UGX524 billion proposed business investment budget to the Presidential Affairs Committee of Parliament. It was contained in the Ministerial Policy Statement, and Budget Estimates for the FY 2024/2025.

"We are counting on guidance and support from the government to explore sustainable, timely and innovative funding for the Corporation", Paul Isaac Musasizi, the CEO, told the Committee on March 22.

Operationalized in 2018, Kiira Motors is fully owned by the Government and Makerere University with shareholding of 96 percent and 4 percent respectively.

  • The entity's core business objective is to develop, make and sell sustainable mobility solutions (electric motor vehicles, parts, systems and services) across the continent.

Musasizi explained that Kiira Motors seeks to extend the value chain of material, harness the potential of innovative young people, substitute the importation of mobility solutions, and make the country a net source of e-mobility solutions.

The Corporation's five-year business plan, which is already approved by the National Planning Authority (NPA), spans 2023-2028 to progress the entity to positive cash-flow status. Among the key cost drivers in the five year-plan include the construction, tooling and furnishing Kiira Vehicle Plant - KVP; parts and materials for plant commissioning; master store, human capital and capacity development, business development, and operating expenses.

  • Denis Onekalit Amere, the Kitgum Municipality MP, said Kiira Motors stands as Uganda's premier and substantive entity with practical skilling capabilities for the present and future automotive industry workforce, which Parliament must support through adequate appropriation.

Committee Chairperson Jesca Ababiku (Adjumani District Woman MP) observed that building a native motor vehicle industry is consistent with Uganda's aspirations and pathways to Vision 2040 outlined in the National Development Plan - NDP III.

In the current FY 2023/2024, the Corporation requires UGX80 billion to operationalize the Vehicle Plant startup facilities in Jinja and parts and materials to produce 30 buses to consolidate the production skills of the team on the newly installed production line and enhance consumer confidence.

But the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development appropriated just UGX32.5 billion leaving a funding gap of UGX99.5 billion. Currently, the overall funding gap for the Corporation stands at UGX134 billion.

The government has so far capitalized the Corporation to the tune of UGX335 billion for the period 2018 - 2023. The entity with an ambitious target of producing 5,000 vehicles annually by 2030 currently directly employs 168 staff in the engineering, production, finance, administration, marketing and sales and will rise to 600 once the KVP is commissioned.

  • In April 2022, President Yoweri Museveni said government would take the lead in buying electric buses produced by the Corporation, for use by for the different Ministries, Agencies and Department and public academic institutions.
  • As of March 2024, construction of the vehicle plant start-up facilities is at 86 percent completion and is projected to be ready for commissioning by October. Since its establishment, Kiira Motors has produced 16 buses at the National Enterprise Corporation - NEC Luweero Industries in Nakasongola District, which are on the road while 23 are on the production line.

Similar Posts You May Like 

  • MTN Youth Skilling Program: Irene Nandyose turns hobby into a thriving business

    MTN Youth Skilling Program: Irene Nandyose turns hobby into a thriving busin..

    Irene Nandyose, a business administration graduate from Makerere University Kampala loved knitting and crocheting during her free time on campus. And it is through this exercise that a business idea was hatched. But the business idea was only implemented in 2020 following training under the MTN ..

  • MTN Uganda unveils the second phase of MTN Ace Tech as 20 enterprises are selected to take part in the program

    MTN Uganda unveils the second phase of MTN Ace Tech as 20 enterprises are se..

    Wednesday 31 st May 2023 Kampala, Uganda- MTN Uganda has unveiled the second phase of MTN ACE-Tech known as the MTN Ace-Tech-Incubation program aimed at equipping enterprises with skills needed to successfully spur growth of their businesses. This follows conclusion of the MTN Ace-Tech's first ph..

  • President commissions fruit processing factory in Nakasongola

    President commissions fruit processing factory in Nakasongola..

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissioned Kike Tropical Fruits Limited, an extraction and refinery plant. Situated in Kakooge, Nakasongola District, the factory deals in fruit processing. During the commissioning, the President thanked Mr. Francis Mugabe, the proprietor of the factory and his f..

  • Protect Local Industries – Museveni

    Protect Local Industries – Museveni..

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that the government will continue protecting local manufacturers from unfair competition..

  • Mbale Industrial Park Development Takes Off

    Mbale Industrial Park Development Takes Off..

    The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has handed over the Mbale Industrial and Business Park site to China Railway Number 3 Group for the design and building of key infrastructure like tarmac roads and water and sewerage systems...

  • Manufacturers task Gov't, banks on high interest rates

    Manufacturers task Gov't, banks on high interest rates..

    The Government wants commercial banks to lower the interest rates they charge manufacturers so as to stimulate growth in the sector, but banks also insist that the Government has an important role to play. ..

  • Expectations high as UNBS gets hi-tech executive director

    Expectations high as UNBS gets hi-tech executive director..

    Mr. James N. Kasigwa has been named the new executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) following an appointment by the Minster of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa...

  • Ugandan innovation wins UGX70m engineering prize

    Ugandan innovation wins UGX70m engineering prize..

    An innovation by Mr. Martin Tumusiime and his friends has won 15,000 British Pounds (about UGX70 million) from the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Prize for Innovation, at a ceremony held in Nairobi yesterday...

  • Museveni assents to Free Zones Authority, Exports Board merger

    Museveni assents to Free Zones Authority, Exports Board merger..

    The new law that merges the Uganda Free Zones Authority with the Uganda Exports Promotions Board is one of the Acts that have been assented to by the President...

  • Minister cautions entrepreneurs on informality

    Minister cautions entrepreneurs on informality ..

    Entrepreneurs have been urged to formalize their business ventures if they are to benefit from financial services providers and expand their businesses...

  • Turkish, Chinese investors in trouble over wetlands

    Turkish, Chinese investors in trouble over wetlands..

    The Standards Utilities and Wildlife Court has sentenced Kerim Ray, a Turkish investor and Director of Yamani Construction Limited, to pay a fine of UGX200 million, following his conviction for degrading a wetland in Mukono District...

  • Uganda Breweries invests UGX32 Bn on farmers

    Uganda Breweries invests UGX32 Bn on farmers..

    Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has reported a 12% net sales growth in the last financial year, driven by the success of premium beer brands like Guinness and Uganda Waragi. ..

  • Uganda extends oil exploration to Karamoja

    Uganda extends oil exploration to Karamoja..

    Uganda is stepping up exploration in the Moroto-Kadam and Lake Kyoga basins, aiming to boost its reserves to 6.5 billion barrels of oil, a strategic move to solidify its position in the energy industry. ..

  • UMA international trade fair set for October 2

    UMA international trade fair set for October 2..

    The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has officially launched the 30th Uganda International Trade Fair, set to take place from October 2 -10 at the UMA showgrounds at Lugogo, under the theme; "Celebrating 30 Years of Industrial Excellence." ..

  • Dangote Refinery ousts first petroleum products

    Dangote Refinery ousts first petroleum products..

    Nigeria's Dangote Oil Refinery has begun processing gasoline after delays caused by recent crude shortages, an executive said on Monday...

  • Thousands throng Kapeeka Industrial Park Trade Fair

    Thousands throng Kapeeka Industrial Park Trade Fair..

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged communities surrounding Kapeeka Industrial Park to take full advantage of the opportunities it offers in order to market their products and boost their household incomes. ..

  • PMI: Private sector maintains growth trend

    PMI: Private sector maintains growth trend..

    Uganda’s private sector showed resilience in October, with business conditions improving steadily as firms reported robust demand and increased hiring. The latest Stanbic Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) places the index at 52.9 for October, slightly down from 54.2 in September...

  • Zero dividends as Vision Group losses worsen

    Zero dividends as Vision Group losses worsen ..

    Uganda’s largest media house, New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation, has reported a further decline in its financial performance for the year ending June 2024, extending its loss-making streak for the fourth consecutive year...

Most Recent