Gen Katumba: Govt Building UPDF’s Capacity to Construct Major Infrastructure Projects

Minister of State for Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala has opened a one month course for training of NEC/UPDF operators at Kasenyi, Entebbe.

The training will run under the the theme: “Effective Care, Use and Management of Road equipment for improved productivity”.

The Ministry of Works allocated National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the business arm of Ministry of Defence 76 pieces of road construction machinery and equipment and the operators are drawn from the army to be managed under NEC Construction, Works and Engineering Ltd.

Gen Katumba told the trainees that the equipment is meant to build capacity for NEC/UPDF to enable it work on major national infrastructure projects.

He promised that more road equipment would be allocated to NEC if it executed works to their satisfaction.

The Minister pointed out that the equipment provided was multi purpose and could also be used for development of agricultural infrastructure like construction of dams.

Gen Katumba commended UPDF for providing the personnel to undertake the training.

The Managing Director of NEC, Maj Gen James Mugira said the equipping and training of the UPDF/NEC was in line with the vision of the strategic leadership to build capacity to enable participation in National infrastructure development projects.

The training was also to meet the requirement of the Ministry of Works to have the equipment operators well trained and certified by the Ministry technical personnel. He thanked the SFC for putting the Kasenyi training facility at their disposal.

Gen Mugira called upon the trainees to be disciplined during the training and to take care of the equipment both during and after the training.

He asked the Minister to allocate NEC some roads works for on job practical training after the course to start with.

Furthermore, he informed the Minister that NEC already had an MoU with UNRA for engagement and support in road contruction.

At the end of the course, the operators will be awarded Class H license.