Kiira Motors Corporation, Uganda’s pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer, has reached a significant milestone in its ambitious Africa Electric Expedition, arriving in Eswatini after covering 5,377 kilometers—over 40% of the journey from Kampala to Cape Town. The team reached Ngwenya Border in Eswatini on Day 17 of the expedition, where their 13-meter Kayoola electric coach displayed impressive endurance across diverse terrains and climates.
To date, the expedition has helped avoid 2,481.15 kilograms of carbon emissions and consumed 4,511 kWh of energy, maintaining an efficiency rate of 0.84 kWh per kilometer. This achievement highlights the potential for electric mobility in Africa, with the Kayoola coach proving its reliability in real-world conditions.
After completing a memorable 99-kilometer run through Eswatini, Kiira Motors celebrated the Kingdom’s commitment to Africa’s electric-mobility future. “Eswatini has shown its commitment to Africa’s e-mobility future,” Kiira Motors posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account under the hashtag #FromThePearlToTheCape.
Tholani Mkhaliphi, Eswatini’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, commended Uganda for proving that advanced mobility solutions can be locally developed on the continent. He encouraged African stakeholders to transition from discussion to tangible implementation in order to accelerate homegrown innovation in the electric-mobility space.
This milestone follows a successful journey through South Africa, where the Kiira Motors team traveled from the Tlokweng Border, through Pretoria and Johannesburg, covering 396 kilometers while engaging with stakeholders on clean mobility initiatives. Earlier, the team also completed an epic 944-kilometer stretch through Botswana, from Kazungula through Nata, Francistown, and Gaborone, thanking the country for its support.
Throughout the journey, Kiira Motors has formed growing collaborations with key partners across Africa. In South Africa, telecom giant MTN hosted the Ugandan delegation, discussing topics such as connectivity, Industry 4.0, and strategic public-private partnerships to advance e-mobility across the continent.
Having crossed five borders and surpassed the 5,000-kilometer mark, Kiira Motors is celebrating this achievement as proof that Uganda’s innovation is capable of going the distance across Africa. The company also appeared on Paul Ndiho’s Different Perspectives to discuss the significance of the expedition in shaping the future of e-mobility on the continent.
As the Kayoola e-coach continues its trek south toward Cape Town, nearly half of the journey is completed. The expedition is not only a milestone for Kiira Motors but also a testament to Africa’s growing capacity to develop and sustain advanced electric vehicle technology.
