Lusaka — Uganda’s state-owned electric vehicle manufacturer, Kiira Motors Corporation, has received a major boost of regional goodwill following a high-profile stop of its electric bus expedition in Zambia, reinforcing growing African cooperation on clean mobility and home-grown manufacturing.
During the e-coach activation in Lusaka, celebrated Zambian gospel musician Pompi paid a courtesy visit to the Kiira Motors team, fulfilling an earlier pledge to welcome the expedition.
Pompi praised the electric bus as “a symbol of sovereignty and true independence,” describing the project as an inspiration for Africa’s technological self-belief. “International or local, happiness is free,” the artist remarked, highlighting unity and optimism around African innovation.
The Lusaka engagement drew officials from government and industry, alongside representatives of the Zambia Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance, all of whom voiced support for electric vehicles as the future of transport on the continent.
A standout moment was the participation of Patrick K. Kangwa, Zambia’s Secretary to the Cabinet, whose presence underscored the national importance Zambia attaches to e-mobility. Kangwa reaffirmed the country’s commitment to clean transport, local manufacturing and strategic partnerships within Africa.
Kiira Motors officials said the discussions centred on shared learning between Uganda and Zambia, with Lusaka keen to draw lessons from Uganda’s progress in electric vehicle development to accelerate its own transition to sustainable transport solutions.
The expedition, branded #FromThePearlToTheCape, is designed to demonstrate the practicality and reliability of African-designed, African-made electric vehicles across multiple countries, while promoting regional collaboration, climate action and innovation.
Providing an update on the journey, Kiira Motors reported that by Day 31 in Mpika, Zambia, the expedition had crossed a major milestone: Distance covered: 11,277 km (81% of the journey), CO₂ emissions avoided: 4,943.73 kg and Energy consumed: 8,988.6 kWh (0.8 kWh per km).
On the forward journey, Kiira Motors team member Brian Mulondo engaged with local Zambians, including a citizen named McDonald, who expressed amazement at seeing an electric bus charging in the city — a powerful reminder, the company said, that Africa can build and deploy real, home-grown climate solutions.
Kiira Motors described the warm reception in Zambia as a clear sign of growing continental confidence in African technology and a shared vision for an environmentally sustainable and economically inclusive transport future.
