KCCA engineers tour Kiira Motors plant as Kampala advances electric bus transport plans

By Our Reporter

Engineers, mechanics and road safety experts from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) on Friday toured the Kiira Motors Corporation manufacturing plant as the city intensifies efforts to strengthen public transport through the introduction of electric buses and future mass transit systems.

The visit comes at a time when Kiira Motors has begun deploying electric buses in Kampala, with eight buses already operating under the first phase of a wider rollout aimed at improving urban mobility and reducing pressure on the capital’s increasingly congested road network.

The KCCA delegation was led by Eng. Jacob Byamukama and included road engineers, auto mechanics, traffic management personnel, road safety expert Jemima Nalumansi and Eng. Andrew Sserunjogi.

Officials said the visit was intended to provide a deeper understanding of how locally manufactured buses can support Kampala’s transport transformation agenda and help the city prepare the technical systems required to sustain a larger and more efficient public transport network.

“We wanted to see how buses are made, how long they take and how we are going to work together to support e-buses in Kampala,” Eng. Byamukama said during the tour.

Kampala, which hosts a daytime population of more than four million people, continues to grapple with chronic traffic congestion, increasing travel times and growing demand for reliable public transport services. City authorities believe that investing in mass transit solutions remains critical to improving mobility and easing pressure on existing road infrastructure.

During the tour, the KCCA team visited Kiira Motors’ 100-acre manufacturing facility, where they observed various stages of vehicle production, including chassis fabrication, body assembly, painting, quality assurance inspections and road testing.

The delegation also assessed the company’s capacity to manufacture 18-metre buses that could eventually be deployed under Kampala’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, a key component of the city’s long-term transport strategy.

Kiira Motors Head of Production, Eng. Richard Madanda, said the company is well positioned to support Kampala’s public transport ambitions through vehicle production, technical support and skills development.

“We can have the mechanics trained, and we also believe in data,” Madanda said. “We have the capacity to do 18-metre buses.”

Officials from both institutions held discussions on capacity building for KCCA technicians and mechanics who will be responsible for maintaining future bus fleets, as well as the development of supporting infrastructure such as bus depots and maintenance facilities.

Kiira Motors is currently producing both electric and diesel-powered buses and plans to deploy at least 100 buses in Kampala by the end of the year. Some of the buses are expected to operate along the Kampala-Entebbe route as part of efforts to expand public transport options.

The company also confirmed that it is preparing to deliver a new team bus for KCCA Football Club.

Vincent Muhumuza, a Quality Assurance Engineer at Kiira Motors, emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining high safety and quality standards as production scales up.

For KCCA, the visit marked another significant step toward building a modern, organized and sustainable public transport system capable of serving Kampala’s growing population while reducing congestion, improving commuter experience and supporting the city’s broader urban development goals.

As Kampala continues to explore cleaner and more efficient transport alternatives, collaboration between city authorities and local manufacturers such as Kiira Motors is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of urban mobility in Uganda.