KCCA ENGINEERS TOUR KIRA MOTORS PLANT AS KAMPALA EYES EXPANDED BUS TRANSPORT

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

The visit comes as Kiira Motors begins deploying electric buses in Kampala, with eight already operating under the first phase of a rollout intended to improve urban mobility and reduce pressure on the city's congested road network.

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

Officials said the visit was aimed at understanding how locally manufactured buses can support Kampala's transport plans and how the city can prepare the technical systems needed to sustain a larger bus 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,” Byamukama said during the tour.

Kampala, home to more than four million people during the daytime, faces persistent traffic congestion and growing demand for reliable public transport. City officials say improving mass transit is central to efforts to reduce travel times and make movement around the capital more efficient.

During the visit, the delegation toured the company's 100-acre facility and observed the various stages of vehicle production, including chassis fabrication, body assembly, painting, quality assurance and road testing.

The team also assessed Kiira Motors' capacity to manufacture 18-metre buses that could be deployed under Kampala's planned Bus Rapid Transit system.

Eng. Richard Madanda, Kiira Motors' head of production, said the company is prepared to support the city's transport ambitions through vehicle production and technical training.

“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 discussed training 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.

Kiira Motors is currently producing both electric and diesel buses and plans to deploy up to at least 100 buses in Kampala by the end of the year, including units expected to operate along the Entebbe route.

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

Vincent Muhumuza, a quality assurance engineer at Kiira Motors, said safety and quality standards remain a priority as production expands.

For KCCA, the visit marked another step in the city's efforts to build a more organized public transport system capable of serving a growing urban population while reducing congestion and improving commuter experience.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali
Communication and Media Relations Officer