The Kingdom of Lesotho is planning to purchase 20 buses from Uganda's locally owned vehicle manufacturer, Kiira Motors Corporation, as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni pledges to donate five additional buses to the southern African country.

The proposed acquisition could see a total of 25 Uganda-made buses supplied to Lesotho, marking a new opportunity for Uganda's automotive industry to expand into the African market.

The development was discussed on Tuesday, during a meeting between President Museveni and Lesotho's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Hon. Limpho Justice Tau, at State House in Entebbe.

Tau visited Uganda as a special envoy carrying a message from Lesotho's Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane.

In his message, Prime Minister Matekane expressed his government's interest in purchasing 20 buses manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation to address transportation needs in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

President Museveni welcomed the proposal and directed Uganda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, to work with Kiira Motors Corporation to facilitate the proposed purchase.

The Lesotho Prime Minister also requested additional support from Uganda in the form of five buses. President Museveni accepted the request and pledged to donate the five vehicles to the Kingdom.

Under the proposed arrangement, Lesotho is expected to acquire 25 Kiira Motors buses, comprising 20 vehicles to be purchased by its government and five to be donated by President Museveni.

The development presents an opportunity for Kiira Motors Corporation to extend its market beyond Uganda and strengthen its position in Africa's growing automotive industry.

It also highlights the potential for African countries to deepen economic cooperation through trade in locally manufactured products and industrial partnerships.

Kiira Motors Corporation is Uganda's homegrown vehicle manufacturer, producing vehicles intended to provide transport solutions for the domestic and regional markets. Its expansion into other African countries would create opportunities for the company to reach new customers and showcase Uganda's vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

The proposed arrangement is also expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Uganda and Lesotho, particularly through cooperation in trade, investment and industrial development.