Russia has delivered a substantial military support package valued at $53 million (about UGX 185 billion) to Uganda, marking a renewed phase of cooperation between Kampala and Moscow in the security and defense sector.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially received the consignment during the inauguration of a new Military Mechanised Major Repair Facility at Gaddafi Military Barracks in Magamaga, Mayuge District. He revealed that a sister maintenance workshop is now being established in Entebbe to reinforce the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) operational readiness.
Military officials indicated that the donation includes a range of high-mobility transport and battlefield support equipment aimed at strengthening troop movement and logistics. The fleet features rugged military trucks capable of hauling ammunition, transporting soldiers in challenging terrain, and towing heavy artillery.
Also included in the package are advanced Armored Engineering Vehicles (AEVs) designed for combat engineering tasks. Built on robust tracked platforms, the vehicles are equipped with powerful earthmoving tools for clearing obstacles, constructing fortifications, and restoring damaged infrastructure such as airstrips and access routes during operations.
President Museveni welcomed the gesture with gratitude, praising Russia as a dependable partner with deep historical ties to Africa. “This support is important to us. I thank President Putin for this contribution to our defense capabilities,” Museveni said, describing the Russian leader as both a strategic and ideological ally.
Analysts say the donation underscores Moscow’s growing interest in expanding its footprint on the African continent, particularly through military and diplomatic cooperation as global power dynamics evolve.
Author: Justinmind Harerimana
