Museveni commissions $53m Russian-backed military facilities, urges UPDF to embrace AI

President Museveni has commissioned and launched a series of state-of-the-art military facilities, equipment, and training infrastructure under Uganda’s expanding defence cooperation with Russia, following an intensive two-day engagement with a high-level Russian military delegation.

The delegation, led by Lt. Gen. Aleksandr Kshimovskii, held engagements with Ugandan officials on October 21 and 22, 2026, focusing on military training, marine security, modern warfare technology, and heavy equipment maintenance to bolster the operational capabilities of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

President Museveni, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, kicked off the inspection tour at the Mechanised Warfare College in Kalama, Mubende District, before proceeding to the 15 Marine Brigade Pier in Entebbe on the first day. On Thursday, October 22, the President visited the 154 Marine Battalion School at Kalangalo before concluding the program at Magamaga Cantonment in Jinja District, where he officially commissioned a major mechanised repair facility valued at $53 million.

At Kalama, the President launched a digital multimedia training classroom designed to prepare military crews to operate the BRDM-2MS armoured reconnaissance vehicle, enabling personnel to master virtual simulations before undergoing practical field training. Later in Entebbe, he commissioned marine operational assets, including coastal surveillance radar, eight specialised boats, a floating dock, protective barriers, marine workshops, firefighting gear, field ambulances, and specialized transport vehicles.

While inspecting the 154 Marine Battalion School at Kalangalo, President Museveni challenged the military leadership to integrate cutting-edge technological advancements into everyday defence strategies to counter evolving modern threats.
“Advance on the issue of technology, embrace new technology, more automation, more AI, more range because we need to upgrade it overall,” President Museveni instructed the army command, emphasizing that building a modern military requires continuous technological investment alongside technical skill development.

The highlight of the two-day exercise took place at Magamaga Cantonment, where the President commissioned the $53 million mechanised repair facility, fully donated by the Russian government under the bilateral defence cooperation framework. The facility is expected to transform the UPDF’s self-reliance by streamlining the repair and overhaul of heavy military vehicles and complex machinery within Uganda.

Expressing appreciation to Moscow, Mr Museveni, 82, extended gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the visiting military delegation for the multi-million-dollar support across various strategic bases.
“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.
The President stressed that beyond receiving equipment, Uganda must leverage the partnership to acquire technical know-how and eventually build domestic manufacturing capacity.

“We should not only get the good equipment but also learn from them,” the President noted while in Entebbe. Speaking at Magamaga, he further urged local commanders to explore joint manufacturing initiatives with their Russian counterparts. “But these materials, I think, were made in Russia. What if we made them here with the Russians?” he posed.
Addressing the gatherings, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, commended President Museveni’s diplomatic engagement with Moscow, noting that it continues to yield tangible security benefits for the nation.

“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,” Hon. Kiwanuka stated, pledging that the UPDF leadership will strictly maintain the new facilities to maximize their operational lifespan.

Reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to Kampala, the head of the Russian delegation, Lt. Gen. Aleksandr Kshimovskii, assured Uganda of continued bilateral security assistance and technical backstopping.

“We shall continue to develop mutual cooperation between Uganda and Russia. Russia is ready to supply the necessary equipment,” Lt. Gen. Kshimovskii affirmed.
The two-day events were attended by senior UPDF brigade commanders, junior officers, representatives of sister security agencies, and local government leaders.

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