President Yoweri K. Museveni has officially commissioned the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja, a landmark investment set to position Uganda as a continental leader in mobility innovation and industrialization.

Speaking at the launch, President Museveni highlighted the plant’s role in driving economic transformation, noting that Uganda’s economy is already growing at 7% and is projected to exceed 10% once oil production begins. “We have a clear vision for what will transform our society,” he said, pointing to the nation’s abundant natural resources, including high-grade iron ore in Kabale and Butogota and substantial lithium deposits in Ntungamo.

The Kiira Vehicle Plant, described as the biggest and most advanced bus manufacturing facility on the African continent, is expected to unlock opportunities for import substitution, job creation, technology transfer, and industrial self-reliance. Currently, Uganda spends over $900 million annually on steel imports, a dependency the government intends to reduce through local processing of iron ore. At the same time, the rise of electric vehicles is expected to increase demand for lithium, positioning Uganda to meet both domestic and regional needs.

Congratulating Makerere University, Kiira Motors, and the National Enterprise Corporation for their role in bringing the project to life, President Museveni said their success demonstrated that “we can indeed realize our potential.”

The plant’s sustainability strategy is rooted in the use of Industry 4.0+ tools and technologies, localizing production of parts and components, and building long-term technology partnerships. These steps, officials say, will lay the foundation for Uganda not only to meet its own transport needs but to become a net exporter of mobility solutions across Africa.

Quoting Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, Museveni emphasized the broader vision behind the project: “We face neither East nor West, we face forward.” He added, “This is exactly what we are doing today—facing forward towards a future of industrial self-reliance and technological leadership.”

The Kiira Vehicle Plant forms part of Uganda’s 2040 Vision to achieve upper-middle-income status through strategic investments in manufacturing, innovation, and infrastructure.