Rogers Mubiru and a group of self-taught innovators from Kevoton Motions Engineering Ltd unveiled a unique 3-wheeler vehicle called “Bingwa” on Monday. This innovative vehicle is designed for multiple purposes, including transporting goods, pumping water, and generating electricity.
Mubiru, who disclosed that he dropped out of school in senior two, shared that the journey of creating Bingwa began way back in 1998 when they first crafted a steam engine from wood and clay.
He explained, “We came up with this idea when we realized that Uganda lacks locally produced power devices. Many individuals have designed cars and various machines, but they depend on imported power devices.”
In 2012, Makerere University acknowledged their technology during a trade exhibition. With the university’s support, they moved from a wooden steam engine to a metallic one in 2014. By 2016, they had transitioned to a fuel-based version.
They were later connected with Kiira Motors Vehicle Plant in Jinja, where they successfully built the 3-wheeler vehicle, which they aptly named Bingwa, Swahili for “Champion.”
Albert Akovuku, the director of Production at Kiira Motors, highlighted that a significant portion of Bingwa’s components, about 55%, are locally manufactured, aligning with Uganda’s emphasis on localizing and adding value to the manufacturing sector.
Bingwa was officially launched by President Yoweri Museveni during Uganda’s 61st Independence Day celebrations in Kitgum district.
The vehicle is powered by a fuel-efficient 0.8-liter two-stroke engine, offering a higher power-to-weight ratio compared to traditional four-stroke engines.
This 3-wheel vehicle has impressive capabilities, including the capacity to transport up to 1,000kg of goods, pump 6,000 liters of water per hour, and generate 6 kW of electricity each hour.
Mubiru shared that they are in the process of constructing more “Bingwas,” which will soon be available in the market. Their goal is to deploy around 600 units across different sub-counties to improve the livelihoods of households.
Kiira Motors has priced Bingwa at Shs28 million, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness by combining the functions of a tuk-tuk, a water pump, and a power generator into one innovative vehicle.