President Yoweri Museveni has flagged off the first batch of 67-seater Metu Zhong Tong buses assembled in Uganda.
The President was in Mukono where he commissioned five factories; Royikems (mattresses), Landy (sandals/shoes), Sino Textile, CCLE (rubber, lubricants) and Tian Tang (steel, mattresses).
The President later commissioned the bus-assembly plant in Namanve Industrial Park.
Speaking at Tian Tang premises, the President assured the investors of security. He also told the workers that Parliament had passed a minimum wage bill, but said it’s enforcement must be scientific and not emotional.
The buses are assembled at a plant located in Namanve, Wakiso district. The parts of the buses are imported from China and assembled locally.
The chassis, engine, and gearbox are assembled, painted, wired and fitted at the Namanve plant.
About 50 workers operate on site, among them engineers, mechanics, welders, and other professionals; the company hopes to be assembling 20 buses per month by June.
Some of the workers were trained by a team from the Zhongtong Bus Holding Co. Ltd in China. According to Metu, each bus will cost sh400m, which he describes as the cheapest in the region.