Uganda has launched the “Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition,” a 30-day, 13,000-kilometre journey across six African countries — Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa, reports Nile Post.
Themed “From the Pearl to the Cape,” the expedition aims to highlight Uganda’s electric-mobility advances, boost regional trade and promote the continent’s shift toward sustainable transport.
Flagged off in Kampala, the expedition is led by Kiira Motors Corporation’s Kayoola E-Coach 13M Model 2025, a fully electric intercity bus with a 500-kilometre range per charge. The vehicle serves as a demonstration of Uganda’s growing engineering capabilities and its ambition to become a major centre for electric vehicle manufacturing in Africa.
At the launch, Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala called the expedition “a strong statement of national confidence and continental ambition.” He said the journey signals Uganda’s belief in its people, its technology and Africa’s potential to shape a sustainable future.
Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Monica Musenero noted the expedition’s wider meaning for the continent’s industrial and technological rise. She said the Kayoola Electric Coach is carrying Africa’s goals for transformation and unity while opening new regional markets and strengthening Uganda’s leadership in sustainable mobility.
The team will make key stops in Francistown, Gaborone, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Mbabane and Cape Town, showcasing Ugandan innovations and select agricultural products. Policy and business engagements are planned with host governments, private-sector partners and Ugandan diaspora communities, including major meetings in Gaborone on November 29, Johannesburg on December 2 and Cape Town on December 6.
Private sector support has been strong. Swangz Avenue, which led the expedition’s branding, described the effort as “a landmark moment,” while MTN Uganda hailed it as a significant achievement for Ugandan engineering.
Kiira Motors Corporation said the Kayoola E-Coach 13M Model 2025 marks a major advance for Africa’s electric mobility sector. With its 500-kilometre range, the company says the vehicle meets Africa’s need for efficient, modern transport solutions.
The expedition will conclude in Cape Town on December 5–6, 2025, before the team begins the return trip. Organisers say the mission is a major step toward positioning Uganda as a leader in electric vehicle development while deepening commercial ties across Southern Africa.
