The 4th edition of the Kampala Auto Show, held from 12th to 13th July 2025 at the Kololo Independence Grounds, concluded in style, drawing over 5,000 auto enthusiasts, motorsport fans, families, and key players in Uganda’s automotive industry. Regarded as the country’s premier automotive experience, this annual event once again united vehicle manufacturers, spare part dealers, auto financing institutions, insurers, motorsport talent, and car lovers in one vibrant hub of business, innovation, and entertainment.
Plascon Uganda, one of the main sponsors and partners of this year’s show, was on ground to exhibit its comprehensive automotive paint product range, reinforcing its commitment to driving excellence and innovation in Uganda’s mobility sector. Speaking at the event, Benjamin Bicung, Marketing Coordinator at Plascon Uganda, expressed his pride in being part of the show, saying, “We are proud to be part of the 4th edition of the Kampala Auto Show, celebrating the spirit of motion, design, and creativity. Our automotive product range is engineered to meet the highest standards of performance, durability, and beauty, ensuring that vehicles not only look stunning but also withstand the rigours of our climate. We look forward to continuously supporting Uganda’s automotive and motorsport communities with solutions they can trust.”
Plascon’s automotive solutions on display included its flagship Plascon Plascryl, a two-component acrylic/isocyanate enamel known for its high gloss, fast drying, and excellent weather and chemical resistance. Specially designed to handle tropical climates, Plascryl is virtually scratchproof and can be force dried to speed up processing times. It’s ideal for refinishing cars or whenever a top-quality finish is needed, including as a topcoat over Epoxy Enamel. Surfaces must be clean, dry, and properly primed with Plascon High Build Epoxy or Acrylic Primer. It is applied in two to three coats with a spray gun, mixed in a 4:1 ratio with Plascryl Acrylic Hardener, and thinned to the right viscosity with Plascryl Thinner. After a 10-minute flash-off, the enamel can be baked at 70–80°C for 30 minutes or left to air dry, with full hardness reached in one week.
At their stand, Plascon also featured Plascon Plascryl Thinner, an aromatic solvent blend specially formulated for the Plascryl enamel system and high-build primers. It ensures optimal flow and performance, with a specific gravity of 0.85, a flash point above 21°C, and is available in one- and five-litre packs.
Visitors also discovered Plascon Fast Dry, a tough, fast-drying synthetic enamel that’s easy to apply on vehicles, wood, or metal, indoors or outdoors. For best results, it’s recommended to prime surfaces with Plascon Aluminium Wood Primer for new wood, Zinc Phosphate or Red Oxide Primer for steel, and Plascon Wash Primer for galvanised or light alloys.
Plascon Nitrocellulose Paint, another highlight, is a fast air-drying cellulose lacquer made for automotive refinishing but equally useful on treated indoor furniture. It should be applied over a universal primer surfacer or sanded old paint; if applied over synthetic enamel, the enamel must be at least three months old to avoid lifting. For best spray results, it’s mixed with Plascon High Gloss Thinner to reach 18–20 seconds DIN Cup No. 4. It’s touch dry in about five minutes, handling dry in one hour, and fully dry in 48 hours.
Completing the lineup was Plascon’s Lightweight Body filler, a two-component creamy filler with low density for maximum filling with minimal product. It spreads easily without sagging, cures quickly without shrinking, and sands smoothly, offering excellent adhesion on all substrates. Vacuum processed to reduce pinholes, it also has a tack-free finish to prevent sandpaper clogging. Mixed with 2–3% peroxide paste hardener, it should be applied on a clean surface and sanded with P60–P120 for roughing and P180–P220 for finishing. Tools should be cleaned with nitro thinner, and the putty stays shelf-stable for up to a year in a cool, dry place.
Beyond the product showcases, the Auto Show was a true festival of speed and style. Motorsports enthusiasts were treated to adrenaline-pumping drifting displays, stunt performances, and rally car demonstrations. Eric Nuwagaba, popularly known as One Trouble from Tag Racing, highlighted how important such events are for the local motorsport scene. “Events like this are a great opportunity for us MotoGP riders to find new sponsors because the sport is expensive and needs more support to grow,” he said.
Another well-known figure in the growing drag racing scene, West Da Industrialist, expressed his excitement about participating in the show and praised the motorsport federation for its continuous backing of the sport while also pointing out areas that could be improved to help the community grow stronger.
Rally driver Umar Dauda from WRT Rally Team applauded the drifters and MotoGP riders for putting on a thrilling show and called on rally drivers to return the support. “Our drifters and riders are our biggest fans in motorsport, so we must also show up for them at their events and grow this community together,” he said.
