Uganda commissions $53 million Russian-backed military facility

President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned a $53 million mechanized military repair facility at Magamaga Cantonment in the Jinja District. The facility, donated by the Russian government, is part of a bilateral defense cooperation framework aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

The two-day commissioning program, which included a Russian delegation led by Lieutenant General Aleksandr Kshimovskii, spanned several locations including Kalama, Entebbe, and Kalangalo. Upgrades include a simulator for BRDM-2MS armored vehicles, naval hardware, and various military training infrastructures.

During the event, Museveni expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the equipment package. He urged the UPDF to move beyond mere procurement by mastering emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation, to ensure the military can eventually maintain, repair, and manufacture weaponry domestically to protect national sovereignty.