In a move aimed at fast-tracking homegrown solutions for Uganda’s progress, a Ugandan delegation led by Paul Amoru, High Commissioner of Uganda to the Republic of South Africa in Pretoria, held a strategic meeting with the MTN Group, led by MTN South Africa’s General Manager for Enterprise Solutions, Sudipto Moitra, following the successful arrival of Uganda’s made Kayoola Electric Bus in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Uganda Electric Expedition concluded a historic 30-day, 13,000-kilometre journey in South Africa that began in Kampala and traversed Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and Eswatini. The expedition showcased the endurance and practicality of electric mobility across diverse terrains and national borders, helped evaluate real-world charging and logistics challenges, and built regional partnerships around sustainable transport. For Uganda, the trip demonstrated leadership and ambition in clean mobility and provided tangible momentum for EV adoption, policy engagement, and private-sector investment across East and Southern Africa.
The discussions between MTN and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat in the President’s Office (STI-OP) focused on establishing strategic collaborations and public–private partnerships to foster the co-creation of innovative solutions across the bureaus under STI-OP. Ms. Catherine Muwumuza, Superintendent of Support Services at STI-OP, called for a common ground between MTN and STI-OP to scale the development and distribution of Uganda’s technology and products across the continent and beyond.
“The Kayoola Electric Bus is proof that what we created truly works,” said Muwumuza. “Moving people requires connectivity, and that’s where MTN comes in. We need further conversations to foster collaboration with MTN’s continental reach to drive e-mobility.”
MTN’s evolution from a traditional telecom operator into a full-fledged technology company is gathering pace, with Moitra highlighting the latest innovations within the MTN ICT proposition as evidence of that shift; he said the company is actively seeking partnerships to drive that transformation, noting, “We have seen a lot of innovations from Uganda and are well poised to co-create with Uganda. The MTN leadership is willing to support and scale the country’s innovation agenda.”
Ambassador Amoru thanked MTN Group for adhering to President Museveni’s call during the Uganda-South Africa Investment Summit, where he urged private companies such as MTN to support public-private partnerships. “I am happy to see that we are having these engagements,” he said.
The engagement reaffirmed a shared commitment to scalable innovation, strengthened ecosystems, and the development of solutions that accelerate Africa’s progress.
Kiira Motors Corporation’s flagship EV bus set off from Kampala (Uganda) on November 20. By the time it reached Johannesburg (South Africa), it had covered 4,916 km and saved 2,270 kg of carbon emissions.
