CEOs of Military Industries from East African Community Partner States gather in Kampala to assess the Operationalization Progress of Shared Defence Facilities and review the Implementation Status of previous Sectoral Council directives on Defence Cooperation.
In his address at Skyz Hotel, Kampala, Lieutenant General James Mugira, Managing Director of the National Enterprise Corporation, underscored the pivotal role of Defence industries in ensuring self-reliance and sustainable Armed Forces capabilities during combat operations, thereby bolstering national defence.
Highlighting Uganda’s commitment to fostering local Defence industries, Lt Gen Mugira emphasized the imperative of self-reliance, particularly in equipment procurement, to minimize dependence on foreign sources during wartime, crucial for safeguarding national sovereignty.
He lauded the forum’s focus on developing regional Defence industries and facilitating joint utilization of resources, stressing the necessity for collaborative efforts in research and development to address evolving security challenges and bolster industrial capabilities.
Lt Gen Mugira urged EAC partner states to leverage regional resources and capabilities, such as Uganda’s helicopter maintenance capacity, rather than outsourcing services abroad, as a cost-effective and strategic approach.
The meeting, attended by Defence Liaison Officers and CEOs of Military Industrial Facilities from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda, signifies a collective commitment to advancing regional Defence cooperation.
