President Yoweri Museveni has directed relevant government ministries to accelerate support for Uganda's automotive industry following the successful completion of the Presidential Pearl to Cape Expedition 2025, during which the Kayoola E-Coach travelled from Uganda to South Africa and back.

Speaking during the Presidential Pearl to Cape Expedition 2025 Homecoming Luncheon, Museveni congratulated the Kiira Motors team, describing the journey as a historic achievement that demonstrates Africa's ability to design, manufacture and export its own technology.

"I hosted the Presidential Pearl to Cape Expedition 2025 Homecoming Luncheon to celebrate the successful journey of the Kayoola E-Coach from Uganda to South Africa and back," Museveni said.

He added that the expedition shows that Africa can design, manufacture and export its own technology.

The President also linked Uganda's industrial ambitions to the country's historical economic systems, saying that before colonialism, communities had integrated economies built on artisans and indigenous knowledge.

"Our task now is to restore that foundation through modern industrialization," he said.

Museveni said he has directed the relevant ministries to move quickly to secure financing, guarantee off-take for locally manufactured buses and support battery production.

"We must stop working slowly. Uganda's industrial transformation cannot wait," he said.

The homecoming event was attended by several government officials and private sector leaders, including Hon. Aminah Mukalazi, who described the expedition as a milestone for Uganda's industrial development.

She said the journey reflects Uganda's growing industrial capacity, innovation and the potential of locally manufactured technologies to compete on the global stage, while congratulating the Kiira Motors team on the achievement.

MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge also welcomed the successful completion of the expedition, highlighting the telecommunications company's role as the technology partner.

According to Mulinge, MTN Uganda provided onboard WiFi, connectivity, digital solutions, real-time tracking and cashless transaction capabilities throughout the 13,784-kilometre journey across Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia.

She said the expedition demonstrated not only the potential of electric mobility but also the importance of digital infrastructure in supporting innovation across Africa.

"MTN remains committed to enabling the digital infrastructure that will power smarter mobility, connected ecosystems, and a more digitally empowered Africa," she said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Monica Musenero said projects such as Kiira Motors should be assessed by their broader national impact rather than immediate financial returns.

"Innovations like Kiira Motors are not measured or valued by the immediate profits they generate because the value they create goes into the population," Musenero said.

The Pearl to Cape Expedition is being presented by government officials and partners as a demonstration of Uganda's progress in local vehicle manufacturing, industrialisation and electric mobility.