President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned a $53 million mechanised major repair facility at Magamaga Cantonment in Jinja District, alongside military training infrastructure and marine security equipment provided under Uganda’s defence cooperation with Russia.
The facility is expected to strengthen the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) capacity to maintain and repair military vehicles and other equipment locally, as the government seeks to build technical expertise and reduce dependence on foreign maintenance services.
The commissioning activities took place on October 21 and 22, 2026, during a two-day engagement involving President Museveni, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, and a Russian delegation led by Lt Gen Aleksandr Kshimovskii.
The programme covered military training, marine operations, modern warfare technology and equipment maintenance at installations in Kalama, Entebbe, Kalangalo and Magamaga.
At Magamaga Cantonment, President Museveni thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and the delegation for the military assistance, which he said included equipment worth $53 million for the repair facility.
“First of all, I really want to thank His Excellency President Putin and the Russian delegation for this gift of $53 million worth of equipment,” President Museveni said.
However, the President said Uganda should move beyond acquiring military equipment to developing the capacity to maintain, repair and eventually manufacture it locally.
“But these materials, I think, were made in Russia. What if we made them here with the Russians?” he asked, calling for cooperation that would enable Uganda to develop domestic manufacturing capacity.
President Museveni said the country needed to learn from its defence partners rather than remain dependent on imported equipment and foreign technical expertise.
“We should not only get the good equipment but also learn from them,” he said during the commissioning of marine facilities in Entebbe.
At the Mechanised Warfare College in Kalama, Mubende District, President Museveni launched a digital multimedia training classroom designed to familiarise military crews with the BRDM-2MS armoured reconnaissance vehicle before they proceed to practical training.
The facility is intended to improve personnel’s understanding of the vehicle’s capabilities and prepare them for its operation.
In Entebbe, the President commissioned marine operational assets and supporting infrastructure at the 15 Marine Brigade Pier. These included surveillance radar, eight boats, a floating dock, protective barriers, marine workshops, firefighting equipment, specialised vehicles, a field ambulance and training facilities.
The installations are intended to strengthen the UPDF’s marine operational capacity, including surveillance and the protection of personnel and equipment.
On October 22, President Museveni visited the 154 Marine Battalion School at Kalangalo, where he urged the military to embrace scientific and technological advances to improve its response to emerging security threats.
“Advance on the issue of technology, embrace new technology, more automation, more AI, more range because we need to upgrade it overall,” he said.
He emphasised that military modernisation required investment in technology alongside the development of technical skills and operational capabilities.
Government hails defence partnership
The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, commended President Museveni for strengthening Uganda’s relations with Russia and thanked Russian technical experts for their contribution to the development and equipping of military installations.
Kiwanuka said the President’s engagement with the Russian leadership had helped sustain diplomatic relations and opened opportunities for cooperation, particularly in defence and military technical assistance.
“Your continued engagement with the Russian leadership has sustained the cordial diplomatic relations between our two countries and opened avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in defence and military technical assistance. We thank you most sincerely,” Kiwanuka said.
He said Russian assistance had supported the development and equipping of several defence installations across Uganda.
The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the UPDF leadership pledged to ensure that the facilities were properly utilised and maintained to achieve their intended objectives.
Russia pledges continued military cooperation
Lt Gen Aleksandr Kshimovskii, who led the Russian delegation, reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to continued military technical cooperation with Uganda.
“We shall continue to develop mutual cooperation between Uganda and Russia. Russia is ready to supply the necessary equipment,” he said.
The commissioning ceremonies were attended by UPDF brigade commanders, junior officers, representatives of sister security agencies and local leaders.
The facilities reflect the scope of Uganda-Russia defence cooperation, which encompasses military training, marine security, armoured vehicle maintenance and the introduction of modern technologies.
President Museveni’s call for local manufacturing also points to a broader ambition: building Uganda’s capacity to produce and maintain military equipment rather than relying exclusively on foreign suppliers. The extent to which the partnership will translate into domestic production will depend on future technology transfers, skills development and investment in local manufacturing.
