Putin arms East African nation with over $53 million in military hardware as Museveni pushes army to build its own weapons

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has formally commissioned a series of new military installations and equipment developed through bilateral defense cooperation with Russia.

• Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni inaugurated new military installations and equipment developed with Russian support.
• The new infrastructure includes facilities in Kalama, Entebbe, Kalangalo, and Magamaga, featuring simulators, naval hardware, and a $53 million heavy equipment repair center.
• Museveni publicly thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia for their substantial defense assistance.
• He stressed that Uganda should not depend solely on foreign military procurement, but instead focus on mastering technology like AI and automation for self-reliance.

The new defense infrastructure expands military capabilities across key locations in Uganda.

Uganda inaugurates new military facilities backed by Russia

The newly commissioned defense facilities are spread across Kalama, Entebbe, Kalangalo, and Magamaga.

The infrastructure upgrades include a simulator for BRDM-2MS armored vehicles, naval hardware, and a major heavy mechanized equipment repair center.

President Museveni publicly expressed his appreciation to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people for providing the defense assistance.

According to La Nouvelle Tribune, Museveni revealed the financial magnitude of the initiative in a statement on social media, writing: "I thank President Putin and the Russian people for this support, which includes a heavy equipment repair center," of over "$53 million", located in Magamaga.

Museveni urges Uganda to build indigenous weapons through cooperation with Russia

While receiving the $53 million repair center and accompanying equipment, the Ugandan head of state stressed that relying solely on foreign defense procurements is insufficient.

Museveni urged the Ugandan military to master emerging technologies specifically artificial intelligence and automation to ensure the army can service, repair, and ultimately produce its own weaponry domestically.

As reported by La Nouvelle Tribune, Museveni noted: "We must not only acquire quality equipment but also learn how to maintain, repair, and eventually manufacture it locally".

He emphasized that security partnerships between Uganda and Russia should enhance domestic self-reliance, stating that the cooperation must help the nation "develop our local capabilities, protect our sovereignty, and strengthen our ability to defend Uganda".