Over the weekend, media people, lawyers, insurers, army and other stakeholders and other revelers converged at Luweero Industries Limited, in Nakasongola to an assembly of the brand new Kayoola electric buses nicknamed Kayoola EVS.
Through the years, Kampala’s growing transportation challenges have co-currently been rapid growth in motor traffic, increasing air pollution caused by car gas emissions and a lack of adequate infrastructure.
This December, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) is set to experiment with a public transportation system in the capital, Kampala using two recently built Kiira Motors Corporation electric powered buses in order to tackle the long overdue recurring transportation challenges..
Speaking at a convergence held at Luweero Industries Limited, an industry that is part of National Enterprise Corporation under the Ministry of defence and veteran affairs, Paul Musasizi, the Kiira Motors Corporation chief executive officer, the KMC electric buses project is underwritten by a Chinese technology partner tailored largely to provide solutions to transportation challenges in the city.
The KMC electric buses project materialized after the government of Uganda signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese automobile company. This saw a group of Ugandan Engineers from Kiira Motors Corporation set off to China to study more on the new technology in electric vehicles. They later went ahead to build the buses in China with the help of Chinese engineers for technology tractor.
“The project is in line with KCCA’s Multi-Modal Urban Transport Master Plan 2018/2040 designed to guide the development of a sustainable transport system in Kampala,” Musasizi said.
He said the pilot Eco Bus service will use dedicated lanes covering the ring road from the Constitutional Square–Nakawa-Ntinda via Stretcher Road-Bukoto-Mulago-Wandegeya and back to the Constitutional Square.
“It will initially cover 16 kms with 100 Eco-Buses that will be increased to 500 to cover the entire Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. The project will receive financing through a highly concessional facility from the African Development Bank,” he added.
The equity partners in KMC are; government of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations with 96 per cent and Makerere University with 4 per cent.
About Kayoola EVS
The Kayoola Solar Bus concept represents the next generation of public transport for cities within the region. The first of its kind on the African continent, the Kayoola Solar bus relies on lithium-ion batteries to power an electric motor that is coupled to a 2-speed pneumatic shift transmission.
This technology serves to conserve the environment and public health. The telltale signatures of traditional diesel engine buses – plumes of dark smoke blowing out of the tailpipe and a grumbling engine sound — are replaced by a soft whine as soon as the electric bus accelerates.
The Kayoola EVS’ are able to transport 90 passengers, 49 sitting and 41 standing.
Under one single charge, the Kayoola EVS can run for 300km. The buses will be piloted on Kampala-Entebbe road through the Eco-bus project under Kampala Capital City Authority.
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