Leutinuanant General James Mugira; the Managing Director-National Enterprise Corporation hosted Hon Bamulangaki Ssempijja; the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs at Luwero Industries Headquarters. The Minister was accompanied by Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth- State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs (General duties) and Hon Huda Abason Oleru-State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Veterans),Hon Lt Gen Peter Elwelu-Deputy CDF, Maj Gen Charles Okidi-Chief of Staff-UPDAF representing JCOS, Mr. James Mutabazi-Underscretary UPDAF representing Permanent Secretary.
Luwero Industries is one of the subsidiaries of National Enterprise Corporation; a commercial /business arm of Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF.
Hon Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja said he was honoured to visit Defence Industries and see what was taking place and was particularly grateful to Gen Mugira for the wonderful work he was doing not only for Luwero Industries but also for NEC.
He thanked H. E the President Gen Yoweri K. Museveni for the vision of establishing the Defence Industries that continue to contribute to national development.
He thanked Kyoga Dynamics leadership for great partnership with Luwero Industries and asked them for their continued support.
He said he was energised with what was happening at Luwero Industries and pledged Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs support to NEC.
On his part, Gen James Mugira welcomed Hon Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja to Luwero Industries and thanked him for for finding time to come see its operations and was received by Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi-General Manager-Luwero Industries Ltd.
He presented a paper to the Ministry of Defence Leadership on the activities and operations of the various NEC Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures/Partnerships. These include: Luwero Industries Ltd, NEC Construction Works and Engineering Ltd, NEC Farm-Katonga Ltd, NEC AGRO SMC Ltd, NEC- Uzima Ltd and two Joint Ventures: Kyoga Dynamics Ltd and PRO HELI International services Ltd.
Gen Mugira observed that Defence Industries are set up to provide self-reliance and sustainable in-country capability for supplying the Armed Forces especially during combat, thereby supporting the National Defence of a county.
Gen Mugira emphasised the need for Defence Industries and informed the Minister that world over they are strategic facilities and are usually in the forefront of rest of the commercial industries.
To achieve this however, Research and Development is another area of strategic significance as far as Defence Industries are concerned.
He informed the Minister that Local Defence Industries also create jobs by providing employment and engage the Defence Forces in productive activities for the development of a country in line with with Article Article 209 of the constitution which obligates the UPDF to, among others, engage in productive activities for the development of Uganda.
He took the Ministers on a guided tour to: Central Laboratory, Masks Production Workshop, Precision Workshop, Kiira Bus Assembly Workshop, Grenade and Cartridge Workshops, Oxygen and Nitrogen Plant, Veba, Incineration Plant, Kyoga Dynamics Factory, NEC-STREIT factory and PRO-HELI International services Ltd