JINJA, UGANDA. In a landmark achievement for Africa’s green industrial revolution, Uganda’s state-owned Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) has signed a definitive agreement to supply 820 electric buses to South Africa. The deal, valued at approximately $250 million, marks the largest export of homegrown African electric vehicle (EV) technology to date.
The announcement was made by Dr Monica Musenero Masanza, Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, who confirmed that contracts have been finalized following a year of rigorous negotiations and technical demonstrations.
The Pearl to Cape Breakthrough
The deal was catalyzed by the success of the Pearl to Cape Electric Expedition completed in late 2025. A Ugandan-built Kayoola E-Coach traveled over 13,700 kilometers from Kampala to Cape Town and back, traversing Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and Eswatini.
The expedition served as a grueling stress test, proving that Ugandan EV technology could handle diverse African terrains and climates. Key performance metrics from the trip included:
Reliability: Only one minor safety incident over 13,000+ km.
Efficiency: Average energy consumption of 0.79 kWh per kilometer.
Cost Savings: Thousands of dollars saved in fuel costs compared to traditional diesel engines.
Scaling Up Production in Jinja
To fulfil the massive order within the next 6 to 12 months, the Ugandan government is mobilizing an additional $143 million to ramp up operations at the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja.
| Feature | Current Capacity | Target Capacity |
| Daily Output | 9 buses per day | 22 buses per day |
| Local Content | ~25-35% | 65% (by 2030) |
| Facility Size | 100 Acres | Fully Integrated Complex |
"This journey affirms that Africa's solutions can be designed, built, and deployed right here at home. Electric mobility is no longer a future concept; it is our current reality."
Infrastructure and Strategic Partnerships
The agreement extends beyond the vehicles themselves. South Africa and Kiira Motors have partnered to develop dedicated charging infrastructure to support the 820-bus fleet.
Kiira Motors, owned 96% by the Government of Uganda and 4% by Makerere University, is also collaborating with Chinese technology partner Golden Dragon to deepen the localization of the supply chain. While specialized components like automotive-grade steel are currently imported, the goal is to manufacture 65% of all parts within Uganda within four years.
A Green Corridor for Africa
This deal is a cornerstone of KMC’s 2030 Vision, which aims to produce 30,000 buses for the regional market. By replacing diesel fleets with the Kayoola E-Coach, South Africa and Uganda are leading the continent's effort to reduce carbon emissions and decrease reliance on volatile foreign oil markets.