King Mswati III Explores Electric Vehicle Collaboration with Uganda's Kiira Motors

As part of his state visit to Uganda, King Mswati III of Eswatini, accompanied by his delegation, toured Kiira Motors Corporation on August 16, 2024. The King was given a guided tour of East Africa's first state-of-the-art manufacturing plant for electric vehicles by the Corporation’s CEO, Paul Isaac Musasizi. The visit highlighted the potential for collaboration between the two nations in the electric vehicle industry.

During the tour, King Mswati III expressed his admiration for the project, noting its significance as a 100% African-owned and operated initiative. He assured Uganda of Eswatini's readiness to serve as a distribution hub for electric buses across the region. "We can work together because when you manufacture buses like this, we see that you’ll not only supply the market here in Uganda but also the whole of Africa," the King remarked.

The visit comes at a time when Kiira Motors Corporation has just delivered a batch of eight 8-Meter Kayoola electric buses, bringing the total number of electric buses produced in Uganda to fifteen.

King Mswati III and his delegation, alongside Ugandan officials, had the opportunity to experience the capabilities of the Kayoola EVS firsthand by being driven around the plant in one of the buses. The Kayoola EVS is a fully electric city bus with a range of 200 kilometers on a full charge and can accommodate over 56 passengers.

In a further show of support, King Mswati III welcomed the idea of a partnership between Uganda and Eswatini aimed at localizing the manufacture of vehicle components by African nations, with the goal of making Africa a global automotive hub.

To symbolize his commitment to environmental sustainability, the King also planted a tree at the plant.

King Mswati III’s visit to Uganda, which began on August 14, 2024, at the invitation of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between Uganda and Eswatini.