Makerere university gets land for Kiira EV Plant

Makerere University has received over 100 acres of land to enhance research in Transportation Technologies.

Centre For Research in Transportation Technologies (CRTT) will use the land to build a production plant for the Kiira Electric Vehicles (Kiira EV) on 50 acres, while the other 50 acres shall have the testing ground for the vehicles.

It is located in the Jinja Industrial park at Kagogwa village.

The land was handed over by Eng Dr Frank Ssebowa, the Executive Director of Uganda Investment Authority on behalf of the Government

Dr. Ssebowa explained during the ceremony held on 15^th May 2014 at Busoga Square, Jinja that the handover would enable CRTT to start the process of surveying the land. The Kiira EV will be made by Kiira Motors Corporation on this land.

Also receiving land in the same neighbourhood was China Engineering company to assemble Foton pickups on 60 acres, as well UEDCL (12 acres).  Dr. Ssebowa urged the companies that received land to ensure that they create employment for the locals.

The Principal Investigator, CRTT Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa upon receiving the documents pertaining to the land appreciated the Government’s contribution and pledged that the team would work hard to ensure the Kiira EV is ready for production in 2018.

At the same ceremony CRTT unveiled for the first time the Kiira EV SMACK; a hybrid car that the team has been working on for the last one and half years. The Kiira EV SMACK is powered by both electric energy and fuel. At low speeds, the car uses electricity while at high speeds it will use fuel and in the process charge the batteries.

Kiira Motors will produce the car in three versions: EV – full Electric Vehicle for enthusiasts, ICE – Internal Combustion Engine or normal fuel engine, as well as the hybrid – combining both fuel and electric systems.

The Kiira EV SMACK is a result of a joint collaboration between CRTT and students of St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK). It will be officially unveiled to the public by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at a later date this month.

Present at the handover of the land was the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem and several members of Staff.