PARLIAMENT: The government is in advanced stages of setting up a 33kv electricity line to power the motor vehicle assembly project for the Kiira Motors company.
He added that works on the extension of electricity and water to the Kiira Motor Vehicle plant will be complete by end of July 2018.
Speaking during a live interaction session with members of the public at Parliament, Nakifuma County MP Robert Kafeero Ssekitoleko, who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology said the project is projected to create 940 jobs at the initial stage, 2,000 direct jobs when fully operational and 12,000 indirect jobs.
He said Parliament was going to support Kiira Motors to compete favourably in the region.
Kiira Motors Corporation is an automotive manufacturing company that was incorporated by partnership between the government of Uganda and Makerere University to champion value addition in the domestic automotive Industry.
The company first came to the limelight with the manufacture of the Kiira EV vehicle, Africa’s first electric powered vehicle that was launched in November 2011.
The innovation quickly gained fame, attracting attention if international car manufacturers.
In November 2014, The KIIRA EV SMACK was launched. The 5-seater front-wheel drive sedan with a traction motor powered by a rechargeable battery bank and an internal combustion engine-based generator is the first electric hybrid vehicle designed and built in Africa.
Mr Kafeero challenged Ugandans to end the mentality of not purchasing Ugandan made products, arguing that the Kiira Motors initiative would develop Uganda’s production & manufacturing sector.
He made reference to the batteries that the late entrepreneur James Mulwana began manufacturing, citing that government supported him with a tax holiday thus subsidizing the cost of his product, and attracting market.
During the live chat, Mr Kafeero also re-affirmed that devices that can detect GMO crops on someone’s farm will be procured. “Ugandans should be able to choose what to consume and what not to. Uganda needs to put a law to check on such contentious issues,” he said, adding that the Bill has not received attention because Parliament of Uganda has prioritized the budget process.
“But hopefully next week, we shall be able to have the topic on the order paper, discuss it and vote on whether to pass it or not, ” the Nakifuma MP said.
He, however, cautioned on the borders being porous and that anyone can import anything for Ugandans to consume.
