This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
On a typical day, Ugandans are accustomed to hearing dire weather forecasts, but a recent announcement from the Uganda Meteorological Department sent shockwaves across the country. The department warned that heavy rains would continue to pound the nation until the end of the year, leading to landslides and floods in the mountainous eastern and western regions, respectively.
Despite the ominous forecast, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The Kiira Motors Company, a government-owned entity, is working tirelessly to harness the country's water resources to power its first electric car, the Kiira EV.
As reported in The East African on September 17, 2019, the Kiira team, comprising Makerere University engineering students, unveiled the electric car several years ago and drove President Yoweri Museveni around in it. The car was initially named MAK EV but was later renamed Kiira EV to reflect the concept of clean energy.
The Kiira team did not stop at just designing and building the electric car. They went on to establish the Kiira Motors Company, which secured a 100-acre site near Jinja, the source of the Kiira River, to build a plant for manufacturing the vehicles. The company partnered with China for technical expertise and has made significant progress in building the plant, with the engineering arm of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces playing a crucial role in the construction process.
As the country continues to grapple with the challenges posed by climate change, the Kiira Motors Company's efforts to harness water power offer a beacon of hope for Uganda's future.
