After 15 days on the road, the Kayoola Electric Bus produced by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) in Jinja has finally reached South Africa, continuing its ambitious marketing expedition to Cape Town.
The arrival marks a major milestone in KMC’s mission to showcase Uganda’s electric-mobility capabilities across the continent. The cross-country journey, which started at Namboole Stadium, has taken the Ugandan-made electric coach through Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Eswatini before entering South Africa.
The trip has tested the bus across different terrains, temperatures and road conditions — and the Kayoola has completed every stretch without mechanical setbacks. For Kiira Motors, this journey is more than a road trip; it is a live demonstration that Uganda can build electric buses capable of long-distance, inter-country travel.
But the biggest spotlight is on Johannesburg.
A Potential Game-Changer: The 450-Bus Deal
According to KMC officials leading the mission, the company is in advanced engagements aimed at securing a historic deal to supply 450 electric buses to Johannesburg. If finalised, this would be the largest Ugandan automotive export in history and one of the biggest electric-bus acquisitions on the African continent.
The deal is tied to South Africa’s aggressive shift toward greener public transport systems, with Johannesburg looking for cleaner, modern, high-capacity buses to upgrade its fleet. KMC says the Kayoola Coach — with a range of up to 500km per charge — is designed for exactly that.
The arrival of the bus in Johannesburg has already unlocked meetings with fleet operators, city transport officials, technology partners and investors. The KMC team says the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding the bus’s performance on the long journey and its comfort features.
A Journey That Made a Statement
From Kampala to Johannesburg, the Kayoola Electric Bus has been received with excitement. In Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana, transport sector leaders praised Uganda for taking bold steps in electric mobility. In each country, the bus held exhibitions, test rides and technology showcases.
By the time it arrived in South Africa, the story of a Ugandan-made electric bus travelling thousands of kilometres across Africa had already gained serious attention.
Why the 450-Bus Deal Matters
If KMC successfully closes the 450-bus agreement, it will:
Put Uganda on the map as a continental player in electric-vehicle manufacturing
Create hundreds of skilled jobs at the Jinja plant
Boost Uganda’s export profile with a high-value product
Strengthen Africa-to-Africa industrial collaboration
Prove that African countries can supply one another with advanced technology
For KMC, it could be the breakthrough that turns the company into a major automotive exporter.
Looking Ahead
The Kayoola Electric Bus will continue its marketing tour to Cape Town, where more demonstrations and exhibitions are planned. As the bus continues its journey, all eyes remain on Johannesburg — and on whether this ambitious Ugandan innovation will secure the landmark 450-bus deal that could reshape Africa’s electric-mobility landscape.
