Nada Andersen retweeted
I happened to come across a Call-Off Order issued by Kiira Motors Corporation, dated 7 April 2026, for the supply of 100 Kayoola electric buses (50 seven-metre buses and 50 ten-metre buses), 80 electric vehicle chargers and associated shipping services. The total value of the order is USD 13.9215 million.
What caught my attention, however, was not necessarily the value of the procurement, but the fact that the identified supplier is CHTC Motor Co. Ltd, a company based in Beijing, China.
This got me thinking and asking a few questions. Not necessarily because I have concluded that something is wrong, but as a concerned Ugandan who genuinely wants to understand our automotive industry and the extent of value addition taking place locally.
First, what exactly do we mean when we describe Kiira Motors as a vehicle manufacturer? Are we talking about a company that manufactures vehicles locally, an assembly plant that puts together imported components or vehicle kits, or a combination of both?
I ask this because there is a fundamental difference between manufacturing and assembly, even though both are important components of an automotive industry.
Manufacturing, in its broader industrial sense, involves transforming raw materials and components into products through processes such as fabrication, welding, body construction, painting and production of vehicle systems.
Assembly, on the other hand, involves putting together components, systems or pre-manufactured parts, often sourced from different suppliers, to produce a complete vehicle.
Now, looking at this particular Call-Off Order, a few things caught my attention:
The supplier is a Chinese company, CHTC Motor Co. Ltd.
The procurement schedule describes the supply of 100 Kayoola electric vehicles as complete vehicle products, with specified carrying capacities, ranges, motor power and battery capacities.
The contract provides for pre-shipment inspection and acceptance at the supplier's premises.
It also provides for further inspection and acceptance upon delivery at the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja.
The payment structure even refers to a final 10% payment upon completion of manufacturing.
This raises some questions that I would genuinely appreciate clarity on.
Are these 100 buses being manufactured in China and subsequently delivered to Uganda, or are they being supplied as components or kits for final assembly in Jinja?
What specific manufacturing processes are actually undertaken at the Kiira Vehicle Plant?
Do we locally fabricate the chassis, manufacture the vehicle bodies, assemble battery systems, undertake motor integration, welding and painting, or are most of these components imported?
What percentage of the total value of a Kayoola bus is actually generated through local manufacturing, labour, engineering and other domestic inputs?
How do we distinguish between the value of a vehicle carrying a Ugandan brand name and the actual value addition taking place within Uganda?
Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that vehicle assembly is a bad thing. Far from it. Assembly is an important starting point in developing an automotive industry. Countries have used it to build technical capacity, develop supply chains, create employment and progressively move into more sophisticated manufacturing.
But I also think we must be honest and precise about where we are on that journey.
There is a difference between owning an automotive company, assembling vehicles locally, manufacturing vehicles locally and developing indigenous automotive technology and production capabilities.
These are all important milestones, but they are not necessarily the same thing.
My concern is that as Uganda continues to invest in industrialisation, we should be able to clearly account for the level of local content, technology transfer, domestic value addition and industrial capacity being created through such investments.
After all, the bigger ambition should not simply be to have Ugandan-branded vehicles on Ugandan roads. It should be to progressively build the capacity to design, manufacture, engineer and produce more of those vehicles here at home.
I would therefore welcome an explanation from those with a better understanding of Kiira Motors' production processes.
Perhaps there is more happening at the Jinja plant than this particular procurement document reveals, and I would be happy to be enlightened.
As Ugandans, we should be able to ask these questions, understand the answers and appreciate the progress being made. Industrialisation should not just be about what we call ourselves; it should also be about what we are actually capable of producing.
Just asking, as a concerned Ugandan who wants to understand.
What caught my attention, however, was not necessarily the value of the procurement, but the fact that the identified supplier is CHTC Motor Co. Ltd, a company based in Beijing, China.
This got me thinking and asking a few questions. Not necessarily because I have concluded that something is wrong, but as a concerned Ugandan who genuinely wants to understand our automotive industry and the extent of value addition taking place locally.
First, what exactly do we mean when we describe Kiira Motors as a vehicle manufacturer? Are we talking about a company that manufactures vehicles locally, an assembly plant that puts together imported components or vehicle kits, or a combination of both?
I ask this because there is a fundamental difference between manufacturing and assembly, even though both are important components of an automotive industry.
Manufacturing, in its broader industrial sense, involves transforming raw materials and components into products through processes such as fabrication, welding, body construction, painting and production of vehicle systems.
Assembly, on the other hand, involves putting together components, systems or pre-manufactured parts, often sourced from different suppliers, to produce a complete vehicle.
Now, looking at this particular Call-Off Order, a few things caught my attention:
The supplier is a Chinese company, CHTC Motor Co. Ltd.
The procurement schedule describes the supply of 100 Kayoola electric vehicles as complete vehicle products, with specified carrying capacities, ranges, motor power and battery capacities.
The contract provides for pre-shipment inspection and acceptance at the supplier's premises.
It also provides for further inspection and acceptance upon delivery at the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja.
The payment structure even refers to a final 10% payment upon completion of manufacturing.
This raises some questions that I would genuinely appreciate clarity on.
Are these 100 buses being manufactured in China and subsequently delivered to Uganda, or are they being supplied as components or kits for final assembly in Jinja?
What specific manufacturing processes are actually undertaken at the Kiira Vehicle Plant?
Do we locally fabricate the chassis, manufacture the vehicle bodies, assemble battery systems, undertake motor integration, welding and painting, or are most of these components imported?
What percentage of the total value of a Kayoola bus is actually generated through local manufacturing, labour, engineering and other domestic inputs?
How do we distinguish between the value of a vehicle carrying a Ugandan brand name and the actual value addition taking place within Uganda?
Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that vehicle assembly is a bad thing. Far from it. Assembly is an important starting point in developing an automotive industry. Countries have used it to build technical capacity, develop supply chains, create employment and progressively move into more sophisticated manufacturing.
But I also think we must be honest and precise about where we are on that journey.
There is a difference between owning an automotive company, assembling vehicles locally, manufacturing vehicles locally and developing indigenous automotive technology and production capabilities.
These are all important milestones, but they are not necessarily the same thing.
My concern is that as Uganda continues to invest in industrialisation, we should be able to clearly account for the level of local content, technology transfer, domestic value addition and industrial capacity being created through such investments.
After all, the bigger ambition should not simply be to have Ugandan-branded vehicles on Ugandan roads. It should be to progressively build the capacity to design, manufacture, engineer and produce more of those vehicles here at home.
I would therefore welcome an explanation from those with a better understanding of Kiira Motors' production processes.
Perhaps there is more happening at the Jinja plant than this particular procurement document reveals, and I would be happy to be enlightened.
As Ugandans, we should be able to ask these questions, understand the answers and appreciate the progress being made. Industrialisation should not just be about what we call ourselves; it should also be about what we are actually capable of producing.
Just asking, as a concerned Ugandan who wants to understand.
30
79
218
22,881
Nada Andersen retweeted
Our dear friend and brother Michael Mukiibi a very fit and energetic man, suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke at 8:00am yesterday morning and passed away 12 hours later.
May the Lord keep him well and grant all his loved ones fortitude.
May the Lord keep him well and grant all his loved ones fortitude.
.@nsengoba: It is said that if you don't know when the rain started beating you, you will never know when you started getting wet links.monitor.co.ug/m_sfAS
#MonitorUpdates
53
15
135
18,135
Nada Andersen retweeted
Recently I heard an advert over the radio of a herbalist saying they can bring back your ex-lover, give you luck so that you can get the jobs you're looking for & the visas you want, give you charms so that you can get the partner & wealth you want. 😀..And UCC just looks on.
0
1
2
101
Nada Andersen retweeted
On the latest #WeShapeGov episode I host @NadaAndersen, a Serbian-born advertising executive who has lived and worked in Africa, mainly in Uganda, since 1993. She is the founder and CEO of Star Leo Advertising and a former President of the Uganda Advertising Association, with three decades of experience building brands for businesses of every size.
I asked her why progress often stalls, even in countries rich in people and resources like Uganda. From her answer, five things stood out:
1️⃣ Lack of a shared national vision. Just as a brand needs a clear vision and mission, a country needs a direction that every citizen understands and can work towards. Many countries have these on paper but poor at implementation.
2️⃣ Public funds not reaching their intended purpose. Money allocated for hospitals, roads and housing does not always reach those services, and communities as they’re misappropriated.
3️⃣ Limited investment in productive sectors. Too little is invested in the industries that create jobs and income especially for young people.
4️⃣ The lack of civic education. Citizens who are not taught how their government works are less able to take part in decisions that affect them.
5️⃣ Uncoordinated priorities. Launching large flagship projects before basic services such as roads, schools and health centres are in place.
We also talk about what she remembers of how leaders were close and accessible by citizens, how media shapes the role models young people follow, and how any of us can be heard by the institutions that serve us through consistent documented actions.
Which of these five do you see where you live, and which would you address first?
Watch the full conversation: lnkd.in/eYJpBvWi
#WeShapeGov #Governance #CivicTech #Leadership
I asked her why progress often stalls, even in countries rich in people and resources like Uganda. From her answer, five things stood out:
1️⃣ Lack of a shared national vision. Just as a brand needs a clear vision and mission, a country needs a direction that every citizen understands and can work towards. Many countries have these on paper but poor at implementation.
2️⃣ Public funds not reaching their intended purpose. Money allocated for hospitals, roads and housing does not always reach those services, and communities as they’re misappropriated.
3️⃣ Limited investment in productive sectors. Too little is invested in the industries that create jobs and income especially for young people.
4️⃣ The lack of civic education. Citizens who are not taught how their government works are less able to take part in decisions that affect them.
5️⃣ Uncoordinated priorities. Launching large flagship projects before basic services such as roads, schools and health centres are in place.
We also talk about what she remembers of how leaders were close and accessible by citizens, how media shapes the role models young people follow, and how any of us can be heard by the institutions that serve us through consistent documented actions.
Which of these five do you see where you live, and which would you address first?
Watch the full conversation: lnkd.in/eYJpBvWi
#WeShapeGov #Governance #CivicTech #Leadership
We know how to describe Uganda’s problems because we’ve lived them. The harder part is the solution.
In this #WeShapeGov episode, we talk with @NadaAndersen about using your voice to hold power to account.
Nada says working alone isn’t productive work. If you want to achieve join hands with others.
She believes being part of the solution starts with being honest about the problem, asking for help, and being accountable to the people around you.
Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/0SUAyImOm0A
0
2
4
225
Your observation is correct for gamblers who have access to a gadget and the internet, plus the means to pay electronically. However, the poorest of the poor still go to a physical betting shop and lose the little that they have.
Uganda internet penetration stats, look at that against the rest of the population.
Uganda internet penetration stats, look at that against the rest of the population.
With online gambling, I don't think the number of licensed betting companies matters much anymore. People can easily access offshore betting platforms. The focus should instead be on stricter age verification and responsible gambling measures.
1
1
8
1,021
Nada Andersen retweeted
We know how to describe Uganda’s problems because we’ve lived them. The harder part is the solution.
In this #WeShapeGov episode, we talk with @NadaAndersen about using your voice to hold power to account.
Nada says working alone isn’t productive work. If you want to achieve join hands with others.
She believes being part of the solution starts with being honest about the problem, asking for help, and being accountable to the people around you.
Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/0SUAyImOm0A
In this #WeShapeGov episode, we talk with @NadaAndersen about using your voice to hold power to account.
Nada says working alone isn’t productive work. If you want to achieve join hands with others.
She believes being part of the solution starts with being honest about the problem, asking for help, and being accountable to the people around you.
Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/0SUAyImOm0A
0
3
2
341
Nada Andersen retweeted
Folks, take your time and go through what this patriot shared with me in my DM. He has summed up the perils of our basic education system today. I like the last line where he says that we let businessmen to run education...
Remember Prof. Mamdani's Scholars in the Marketplace?
Remember Prof. Mamdani's Scholars in the Marketplace?
26
52
204
17,105
Newspapers are full of announcements of the licensing process for new betting companies.
Betting is an addiction, potentially worse than drugs. Once you start, there's no turning back unless through some serious psychiatric therapy.
Why, then, do we even discuss licensing new betting companies?
Who are the most affected people: the poorest, who hope to put the little money they have in their pockets on a winning ticket. But gambling houses never lose: the system is rigged to give out an occasional win so more people can be attracted to betting.
An impoverished society should look at ways and means to stop the bleeding, not to perpetuate poverty and mental health issues.
My vote is strictly against licensing any new betting companies, and gradually for their reduction in number, strict checking of the age of clients, and strict limits to maximum bet amounts.
The little our people earn should never so easily be harvested by gamblers: betting houses, fake pastors, fake savings groups, etc.
Betting is an addiction, potentially worse than drugs. Once you start, there's no turning back unless through some serious psychiatric therapy.
Why, then, do we even discuss licensing new betting companies?
Who are the most affected people: the poorest, who hope to put the little money they have in their pockets on a winning ticket. But gambling houses never lose: the system is rigged to give out an occasional win so more people can be attracted to betting.
An impoverished society should look at ways and means to stop the bleeding, not to perpetuate poverty and mental health issues.
My vote is strictly against licensing any new betting companies, and gradually for their reduction in number, strict checking of the age of clients, and strict limits to maximum bet amounts.
The little our people earn should never so easily be harvested by gamblers: betting houses, fake pastors, fake savings groups, etc.
12
32
92
4,744
Nada Andersen retweeted
Mama povodom ovih hapšenja ima revolucionaran predlog: da se ceo SNS preventivno smesti u zatvor, pa da puštaju jednog po jednog za koga se utvrdi da je nevin.
Kaže, tako je mnogo jednostavnije. 😂
Kaže, tako je mnogo jednostavnije. 😂
138
418
5,842
48,006
Nada Andersen retweeted
A few days ago, @SpireJim wrote here that if abductions and torture happen continuously in Uganda, they will lose what he termed their "shock value" and some people will regard them as normal. And indeed they have.
Yesterday, a reputable bank, Pearl Bank, put out an advert depicting a "customer" being "abducted" and whisked in a drone (the type of vehicle usually used by the abductors) to enjoy one of their offerings. It was despicable, disrespectful, and distasteful. Nothing funny.
Yesterday, a reputable bank, Pearl Bank, put out an advert depicting a "customer" being "abducted" and whisked in a drone (the type of vehicle usually used by the abductors) to enjoy one of their offerings. It was despicable, disrespectful, and distasteful. Nothing funny.
27
152
787
32,730
Nada Andersen retweeted
Uganda doesn’t lack policies, it lacks follow-through.
In this #WeShapeGov episode, we talk with @NadaAndersen about using your voice to hold power to account.
She says the problem is too many meetings, too many per diems, and too few action points, with good policies left Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/0SUAyImOm0A
In this #WeShapeGov episode, we talk with @NadaAndersen about using your voice to hold power to account.
She says the problem is too many meetings, too many per diems, and too few action points, with good policies left Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/0SUAyImOm0A
0
3
6
229
I just voted to help Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka become the 2026 CNN Hero of the Year. You can help make it happen by voting at cnn.com/world/heroes/v…
0
2
2
304
