Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee has proposed granting an additional Sh134.14 billion to Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC). On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, the recommendation was submitted to the Parliament’s budget committee, chaired by Patrick Isiagi (Kachumbala County). The committee stated that KMC had asked Sh166.64 billion to operationalize the Jinja electric vehicle facility, but only Sh32.5 billion was approved in the 2024/25 budget.

Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, appeared before the committee to propose increased funding. The new funding include Sh37 billion for the development of an Innovation Fund, Sh44 billion for the establishment of a Science Park, and Sh29.83 billion for the pathogen economy (vaccine manufacturing).

During the Thursday plenary, Parliament will consider the National Budget Framework Paper for 2024/25.

In April 2018, the government authorized the Kiira Vehicle Plant’s roadmap and allocated 100 acres of land at Jinja Industrial and Business Park. Kiira Motors Corporation, a State Enterprise, seeks to increase value addition in Uganda’s automotive industry through technology transfer, contract manufacturing, and supply chain localization. This strategic intervention is consistent with the industrialization plan, contributing to Uganda’s transformation into an upper-middle-income economy by 2040.

KMC is actively pursuing long-term technological partnerships to develop, manufacture, and sell motor cars and components in Africa, with the goal of making Uganda a better place through automotive technology.