The Kingdom of Lesotho is set to acquire 25 buses manufactured by Uganda’s locally owned vehicle manufacturer, Kiira Motors Corporation, following a bilateral engagement between President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and a special envoy from the southern African country.
The proposed acquisition comprises 20 buses to be purchased by the Lesotho government and an additional five to be donated by President Museveni, in a move expected to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries while promoting Uganda’s growing automotive industry.
The development was discussed at State House, Entebbe, during a meeting between President Museveni and Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Hon. Limpho Justice Tau, who visited Uganda as a special envoy carrying a message from Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane.
In his message to President Museveni, Prime Minister Matekane expressed his government’s interest in procuring 20 buses manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation to support transportation needs in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
President Museveni welcomed the proposal and directed Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs), Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, to work with Kiira Motors Corporation to facilitate the proposed purchase.
Prime Minister Matekane also requested President Museveni to consider supporting Lesotho with an additional five buses. The Ugandan President accepted the request and pledged to donate the vehicles.
The arrangement brings the total number of Kiira Motors buses expected to be supplied to Lesotho to 25, comprising 20 commercially purchased vehicles and five donated by President Museveni.
The proposed deal presents an important opportunity for Kiira Motors to expand its presence in the African automotive market and demonstrate Uganda’s capacity to manufacture vehicles for regional and international markets.
It also highlights the potential for industrial cooperation between African countries, particularly in promoting locally manufactured products, strengthening trade relations and addressing shared development challenges.
For Uganda, the proposed supply represents a potential boost to the country’s automotive manufacturing ambitions, with Kiira Motors positioning itself as a homegrown manufacturer capable of supplying transport solutions beyond the domestic market.
The development could also open up further opportunities for Uganda’s automotive industry to access regional markets, deepen economic partnerships and contribute to industrialisation through value addition and local manufacturing.
The proposed transaction will, however, depend on the completion of the necessary procurement and delivery arrangements between the two governments and Kiira Motors Corporation.
