By KT Reporter
Uganda’s ambitions to be the continental centre of excellence for electric mobility received a major boost this week after the locally designed and manufactured Kayoola electric bus with 49 persons aboard completed a 13,700-kilometre round trip from Kampala to Cape Town without a single technical incident, project leaders said.
The 39-day expedition, led by the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) secretariat in the Office of the President with Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) as the lead implementor alongside other public and private-sector partners, traversed Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa and finally Uganda, testing the limits of electric transport across varied African terrain and infrastructure.
According to Cathy Muwumuza, Superintendent for Support Services at the STI Secretariat, the journey also delivered tangible commercial results.
“When we announced this expedition, some analysts said the bus would not even manage 500 kilometres,” Muwumuza said. “Yet it covered 13,700 kilometres without skipping a beat.”
She revealed that KMC has since secured 450 confirmed bus orders, with negotiations ongoing for about 600 more, edging closer to a government target of 1,000 units.She added that the expedition benefited from strong regional cooperation. In Tanzania, Zambia and beyond, governments supported the team to ensure smooth passage, demonstrating the goodwill that exists across Africa when innovation is shared.
KMC’s legal manager Elias Bwambale who led the manufacturer’s team aboard the bus said Uganda is not just welcoming back a vehicle, but a vision.“We went to the Cape and returned without a single incident involving the bus, which alone demonstrates reliability, efficiency and environmental value,” he said.
Bwambale disclosed that the Kayoola EV was charged at more than 40 charging points along the route, demonstrating that long-distance electric mobility is viable even in regions with limited charging infrastructure.
“We demonstrated that this electric coach can perform across more than 13,000 kilometres on African terrain, consume less energy compared to diesel alternatives, and significantly cut emissions,” he added.
The expedition aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan III (NDP III), which prioritises science, technology and innovation as drivers of industrialisation, as well as the Climate Change Act, 2021, which commits the country to low-emission development pathways in line with the Paris Agreement. It also supports the government’s National E-Mobility Strategy, aimed at reducing transport emissions and import dependence on fossil fuels.
Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala said the journey validated years of public investment in local innovation. “This was a maiden trip of 13,700 kilometres without a mechanical fault. That is no small achievement,” he said. “It proves that what Ugandans build can perform, endure and compete.”
Katumba credited President Yoweri Museveni’s sustained backing of scientists and engineers. “If you are a scientist in this country, you have a president who believes in you. This achievement confirms that belief was well placed,” he said.
MTN Uganda, the expedition’s digital and connectivity partner, said the journey underscored the role of partnerships in scaling African innovation.
“This proved that electric mobility in Africa is not a future concept, it is happening now,” said Ibrahim Ssenyonga, MTN’s General Manager for Enterprise Business. “Our role was to ensure every kilometre was connected, visible and safe, through real-time tracking and performance monitoring.”
The Made in Uganda initiative also leveraged the journey to promote locally produced goods and technology.
“This expedition showcased Ugandan talent on a continental stage,” said Philip Oucor, Head of Operations at Made in Uganda. “It reinforced the message that what is made in Uganda belongs on both African and global markets.”
Beyond commerce, organisers said the journey offers a roadmap for climate-friendly transport across Africa, including proposals for a “green belt” of charging infrastructure from Kampala to Cape Town.
“We have shown that Africa’s challenges can be solved by African solutions,” Bwambale said. “This is not just a statistic; it is a blueprint for protecting our continent and its future.”
As Uganda accelerates its transition to cleaner transport under national and international climate commitments, the successful Kayoola expedition is being hailed by policymakers and industry leaders alike as a landmark proof of concept, and a signal that African-made electric vehicles can go the distance.
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