Gaborone, Botswana — Kiira Motors Corporation has completed the Botswana leg of its “Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition,” marking a major milestone in showcasing the durability, efficiency, and regional relevance of Africa-built electric mobility solutions.
The expedition first entered Botswana on November 30, 2025, exited on December 3, before re-entering on December 16 and completing its final transit on December 18. The multiple crossings underscored Botswana’s strategic importance as a key transit corridor within Southern Africa.
As it traversed Botswana’s vast savannahs and sparsely populated routes, the Kayoola E-Coach underwent intensive long-distance technical validation. The varied terrain and extended travel distances tested the vehicle’s reliability under African operating conditions, particularly in environments with limited charging infrastructure.
Stakeholder engagement featured prominently throughout the journey. In Nata, the expedition team interacted with students and teachers at Nata Senior Secondary School, introducing them to electric mobility, sustainable transport and Uganda’s progress in automotive engineering. The engagement highlighted the importance of inspiring the next generation of African innovators.
In Francistown, the team received a formal welcome at Cresta Thapama Hotel from a Ugandan delegation led by Ambassador Kintu Nyago, Uganda’s Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa. Ambassador Nyago described the expedition as “a defining milestone in Uganda’s industrial transformation,” noting that the Kayoola E-Coach represents African innovation and leadership in green mobility.
The Botswana phase concluded in Gaborone with an Uganda–Botswana stakeholder forum that brought together government officials, private-sector leaders, technologists and members of the Ugandan community. Discussions centred on industrial cooperation, e-mobility development, technology exchange and opportunities for scaling Ugandan innovations across Southern Africa.
By the end of the Botswana leg, the expedition had covered 10,085 kilometres—72.44 per cent of the total Grand Trans-Africa route. Over this distance, the journey avoided 4,484.17 kilogrammes of CO₂ emissions while consuming 8,153.04 kWh of energy, averaging 0.81 kWh per kilometre, underscoring both the environmental and operational advantages of the electric coach.
Ambassador Nyago and the Kiira Motors team expressed appreciation to the Government of Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Hon. Dr Monica Musenero Masanza and partner institutions for their support. MTN Uganda provided digital infrastructure for real-time telematics and communication, while Britam Uganda supported operational safety and risk management.
The 50-member expedition crew—drawn from Kiira Motors, the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat, MTN Uganda, Britam, Swangz Avenue, Buzz Group Africa and cultural storytellers—worked up to 16 hours daily to project Uganda’s innovation, resilience and cultural influence across the continent.
Botswana stakeholders welcomed the initiative, with Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Innovation, Ms Lesego Thamae, stressing the need to support homegrown technologies. Meanwhile, Botswana Bus Operators Association Chairperson Tirafalo Mponang noted that rising fuel costs make e-mobility essential for sustainable public transport.
The successful Botswana leg further strengthens Kiira Motors’ vision of driving Africa’s green mobility revolution through innovation, sustainability and regional collaboration.
