President Museveni has unveiled an all-terrain, armored firefighting vehicle prototype dubbed the “Muliro” or “Moto Eater”, designed to combat wildfires in difficult-to-access environments. The unveiling ceremony took place at State House, Entebbe, in the presence of diplomats from the United States, European Union, and Russia.
The vehicle, developed in collaboration with South African manufacturer Marcé Fire Fighting Technology and Specialized Concept, was built at the companies’ own cost based on a concept proposed by President Museveni.
It is intended to operate in remote areas where conventional fire engines are ineffective, and comes equipped with rubber tracks, high-speed capability, and integrated systems for tackling both wildfires and agricultural pests like locusts.
President Museveni said the idea emerged from both his past as a guerilla fighter and his observations of wildfire devastation globally.
“As a man of war, I used to fight fires myself — using leafy branches and approaching the fire from the back,” he told attendees. “I have acquired a lot of indigenous knowledge and combined it with fighting skills to design an armored vehicle that can help not only Uganda but the world.”
He cited catastrophic wildfires in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Greece, and criticized the limited impact of aerial firefighting efforts.
“Planes release only small amounts of water, which are ineffective in large-scale incidents,” he said. “This is why we needed a land-based solution with greater water-carrying capacity and mobility.”
The “Muliro” prototype features a rugged design optimized for off-road operation. It can travel at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour and navigate across hills, ditches, and other challenging terrain. The vehicle is mounted on rubber tracks, allowing it to traverse environments that would immobilize traditional fire trucks.
A locust spray prevention system was later added to the prototype, expanding its utility beyond firefighting to agricultural crisis response. The innovation was inspected and verified by Uganda’s National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
In 2023, Museveni approached Marcé Industries with the initial idea. A team from Uganda, including engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport, later visited the South African factory in December 2024 to inspect progress.
The unveiling was attended by senior Ugandan officials including Eng. Timothy Tibesigwa, Commissioner of Mechanical Engineering Services; Eng. Jacob Lumonya, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Equipment; and Eng. Nobert Ogwal. The South African delegation from Marcé Industries included Jan Petrus Steyn, Sheila Nayebare, and Dick Muhwezi.
Museveni positioned the innovation as part of a wider philanthropic effort, noting that Uganda is ready to share the technology with other nations facing similar environmental challenges.
“This is a major step forward not just for Uganda’s emergency response capacity, but for international cooperation. We are ready to help countries that are regularly devastated by wildfires,” the President said.
