Uganda | Kampala | In a powerful demonstration of national pride and industrial alignment, Makerere University has acquired three modern buses from Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) Uganda’s flagship automotive manufacturer, marking a milestone in the country’s journey toward homegrown technological and industrial self-reliance.
Two of the newly acquired buses are diesel-powered, while the third, a fully electric bus has been designated to support students and staff with disabilities, ensuring inclusive mobility across the university’s vast campus. The initiative reflects both institutional innovation and national identity, showcasing how local partnerships can drive social impact, sustainability, and economic transformation.
A Model of National Collaboration – According to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, this initiative embodies the institution’s core values of inclusivity, equity, and sustainability, while also reinforcing Makerere’s role as a champion of Uganda’s industrial development agenda.
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to supporting local innovation and ensuring that technology serves everyone, including those with special needs,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
By procuring locally manufactured vehicles, Makerere is not only investing in transport solutions but also investing in Uganda’s industrial future. The move echoes the government’s Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy, a cornerstone of national industrialization that seeks to strengthen domestic production, reduce imports, and create jobs through local enterprise.
A Boost for Uganda’s Automotive Industry – For Kiira Motors Corporation, this partnership is both symbolic and strategic. It demonstrates confidence in Uganda’s ability to design, manufacture, and deliver world-class automotive solutions that meet institutional and national needs. The delivery of the electric bus, in particular, underscores Uganda’s shift toward e-mobility, an area Kiira Motors has championed as part of Africa’s broader transition to sustainable transport.
The collaboration with Makerere also highlights the synergy between academia and industry, where Uganda’s leading university serves as a living laboratory for applied innovation, offering research support, performance data, and real-world feedback that can guide Kiira’s product development and engineering improvements.
Driving Inclusive and Green Transformation – The decision to allocate the electric bus to students with disabilities symbolizes a new model of development thinking, one that is not only about industrial growth but also about social inclusion and environmental stewardship. It reflects a holistic understanding of transformation: where accessibility, sustainability, and national innovation converge.
This initiative sends a strong message to other institutions: that supporting local industries is both an economic and patriotic act, one that creates jobs, retains capital within the country, and accelerates technological learning.
A Partnership Beyond Transport – Beyond the buses, the Makerere–Kiira Motors partnership signals a long-term collaboration in innovation and research. It opens doors for engineering students to engage in practical learning, internships, and co-development of mobility technologies, strengthening Uganda’s human capital pipeline for industrial and technological advancement.
In essence, this initiative is not just about acquiring vehicles, it’s about driving Uganda’s industrial transformation from within.
As Makerere rolls out these buses, the message resonates far beyond campus: Uganda’s future will be built by Ugandans, powered by Ugandan innovation, and driven by institutions that believe in their own.
