FRANCISTOWN, Botswana — Uganda’s first electric bus, the Kayoola E-Coach, has arrived in Francistown, Botswana, after traveling 4,000 kilometers from Kampala, with MTN Uganda being hailed for providing the critical digital connectivity throughout the journey.
The “Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition” team, piloting the electric bus, was welcomed by a diplomatic delegation led by Ambassador Kintu Nyago, the deputy high commissioner of Uganda to South Africa, at the Cresta Thapama Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
The expedition, which crossed from Zambia into Botswana, has showcased the Ugandan-made vehicle’s durability across diverse terrains without a single mechanical issue.
Ambassador Nyago praised the journey as a powerful symbol of the continent’s potential and emphasized the role of the telecommunications firm.
“Seeing this state-of-the-art electric bus here in Botswana proves that Ugandan innovation is ready to lead Africa’s green revolution,” Nyago said. “We are thankful to the Office of the President for supporting this great innovation as well as MTN that has kept us connected to the expedition.”
The bus is equipped with advanced systems that allow for real-time monitoring of performance data, from battery health to terrain adaptation, all powered by the MTN digital backbone.
Paul Luyima, representing MTN, highlighted the importance of this digital support.
“MTN is proud to power the digital backbone of this historic Expedition,” Luyima said. “What we are witnessing is more than a journey across borders; it is a demonstration of how connectivity, innovation and African engineering can unlock new economic possibilities for our continent.”
The expedition is an effort by Kiira Motors Corporation to open markets in the Southern African Development Community. Elias Bwambale, the expedition team lead, said the journey serves as a live demonstration of the vehicle’s reliability.
“This expedition is a bold declaration of Uganda’s technological advancement,” Bwambale stated.
The team is set to head to Gaborone tomorrow for a major showcase focused on bilateral cooperation in the automotive industry and the adoption of green mobility solutions. From Gaborone, the Kayoola E-Coach will proceed toward its final destination of Cape Town, South Africa.
