The Kayoola Bus is a line of public transport vehicles built by Kiira Motors Corporation and Luweero Industries, a military institution, from the factory dome at Luweero Industries headquarters at Nakasongola District.
Kiira Motors Corporation is a State Enterprise in Uganda, with the government owning 96% and Makerere University holding 4%.
KMC’s market entry products are the Kayoola EVS a Fully Electric Low Floor City Bus with a range of 300 kilometers on a full charge and the Kayoola Coach, a premium highway coach available in both electric and diesel powertrains.
The Kayoola Diesel Coach
This bus consumes only 22 litres every 100kms and it has a tank that stores 500 litres. You can go 2,000km with no need to refuel, while the other current buses on market in Uganda reportedly use 38 litres per 100kms.
The bus main doors open and close automatically. The sanitiser dispenser at the bus entrance also detects human hands and sprays them.
Inside, the bus is spacious with reclining 47 leather seats that have good leg room, swivel armrests, footrests, foldable tables, cup holders and USB charging ports.
Mr Allan Muhumuza, the marketing manager for Kiira Motors Corporation, said the configuration of the seats can be increased up to 60 depending on a client’s choice
“It has an executive wing room and comfort. Comfort is at the heart of the design. It is a bus that meets the requirement of travellers upcountry, across the border and tourists,” Mr Muhumuza said.
Kayoola Solar Bus
The Kayoola Solar Bus concept represents the next generation of public transport for cities within the region. The first of its kind on the African continent, the Kayoola Solar bus relies on lithium-ion batteries to power an electric motor that is coupled to a 2-speed pneumatic shift transmission. This technology serves to conserve the environment and public health. The telltale signatures of traditional diesel engine buses – plumes of dark smoke blowing out of the tailpipe and a grumbling engine sound — are replaced by a soft whine as soon as the electric bus accelerates.
The prototype which is designed to serve as an Executive City bus, is easy for riders to spot, thanks to the pearl white color adorned by the colors of the national flag. Its uncompromising beauty, elegant design and luxurious interior space bring to mind the rich heritage of the Pearl of Africa. The pearl white body, and wide sliding windows give the Kayoola a graceful exterior, with the proprietary design grille complementing the front.
The Kayoola Solar Bus will be easier to maintain, in terms of not having to change oil as is done in the diesel-powered buses and not having to repair hydraulic lines that run through a conventional bus. The bus is expected to run 80km, or virtually a full operational day (for example Kampala – Entebbe – Kampala), between recharges.
The Kayoola offers a smoother and cleaner ride, experiencing less vibration and less noise as the result of replacement of the usual internal combustion diesel engine with an electric machine.
Kayoola EVS
The new Kayoola EVS is a 12-meter low-entry city bus with capacity for 90 passengers (49 seated, 41 standing). The electric motor delivers up to 245 kW. According to an article published on theeastafrican.co.ke in November 2019, the bus components were supplied by Kiira Motor’s technology transfer partner, CHTC Motors of China.
The Kayoola EVS™ is a Fully Electric Low Floor Bus specifically designed for Urban Mass Transportation. At full charge, the Kayoola EVS™ has a range of up to 300 kilometers making it capable of seamlessly handling the daily duty cycle. With a sitting capacity of up to 90 passengers, the Kayoola EVS™ is positioned to offer great returns for the bus operator while enabling the reduction in congestion on the city roads.
The Kayoola EVS™ is fitted with state-of-the-art safety and assistive technology for people with special needs including special seats and a ramp for easy boarding and off boarding of people in wheelchairs.