Uganda celebrates progress from imports to electric car making
Uganda’s automobile sector has evolved dramatically since the nation received its initial vehicle in 1906, according to Benjamin Ndawula from the Mobility Bureau. The country acquired just two motor vehicles before independence, but had registered approximately 5,000 by the time colonial rule ended.
During a television appearance on Sanyuka on Wednesday focused on science and technology innovation, Ndawula explained how the nation transitioned to secondhand vehicle imports starting in the 2000s. This shift created financial burdens for drivers who faced steep maintenance expenses and increasing costs at fuel pumps.
A breakthrough arrived when Makerere University students built a functioning automobile in 2017, drawing presidential encouragement to continue production efforts. That project launched the nation’s electric vehicle manufacturing sector. Domestic factories have also begun producing automotive parts like brake components and various filters. These locally made supplies actually surpass the quality of foreign alternatives, Ndawula stated, demonstrating the industrial sector’s advancing capabilities.
