Although Ugandans still have inferiority complex when it comes to the innovations in Science and Technology, the sector has taken significant strides in a short period specifically in the field of motor vehicle engineering and associated parts.
This is evidenced in the Electric Buses, motor cycles and vehicles with associated parts that are being produced by Kiira Motors Corporation in Jinja and Kapeeka Luweero Districts where the factories are located.
The Executive Chairman of Kiira Motors Corporation Prof. Dr. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa while presenting the milestone reached by the sector during the NRM 2021-2026 manifesto week presentations to the media revealed that they have strategized to manufacture a combined capacity of 50,000 electric vehicles and motor cycles by 2030.
He said currently the annual installed capacity is 10,000 motor vehicles but due to limited resource envelop and manpower, they are still producing below the optimum level. The factory can produce 5,000 buses on annual basis.
The director also revealed a total of UGX 514 billion have been invested in the sector since 2018 and this investment has created 1,000 jobs both direct and indirectly and uses between 18-30% local content which gives a big hope as far as employment creation is concerned.
He also told Journalists that has a huge plan of electrifying the Public Transport System and this will help ease traffic jam in Kampala and in other busy towns thus saving and time and money wasted.
The electric Public Transport system will help in climate change mitigation because such vehicles are not emitting gas like the diesel engine cars, they are cost effective and those who will engage in business will make good money without getting stressed.
Other agencies being funded by the Ministry of Science and technology have also been able to come up with new innovations for instance Makerere University has invented a solar cooker which is ready for market now Egg incubation and a Biodegredable Hair from Banana fiber and shoe brushes made from animal skin.
According to Prof. Sandy, the sector is planning to use a Flexible Financing Model which will help to tap more finance resources from the private sector so as to widen the capital base at Kiira Motor Corporation.
He also said that more than 400 small scale enterprises have been supported by the ministry and they are now looking at how the sector can support the Parish Development Model through making cost effective farm implements affordable by such small scale farmers.
He said that the sector has is targeting by 2024/2025 fiscal year to reach 80% of the NRM 2021-2026 Manifesto and by the end of this term the sector will have achieved 85%, given the motivation of salary enhancement by government for scientists.
In an effort to improve innovations in the Engineering sub-sector, the Ministry has take Students to China to study and benchmark for three months about how best electric vehicle are made and other 3 were sent to Japan to study about aero-space while 200 electric bus operators have been trained.
Despite all these achievement, the Global Innovation Index (G I I) analysis still ranks Uganda in 121 position using 2013 figures.