The Managing Director of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), Lt Gen James Mugira, on Tuesday warmly received a high-powered delegation of students and staff from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College Senior Intake 46 at NEC Headquarters in Bugolobi, Kampala.
Led by Air Commodore Thomas Niifio Okai, the delegation is on a study tour in Uganda aimed at exploring the role of Defence Forces in national development. The group comprised officers from various West African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Togo, and Burkina Faso.
Welcoming the visitors, Gen Mugira expressed appreciation for their decision to visit Uganda and emphasized the strong historical and diplomatic ties between Uganda and Ghana, both former British colonies with shared liberation histories.
He hailed the legacy of Ghana’s independence icon, Kwame Nkrumah, describing him as an inspiration to many in Uganda. “Nkrumah’s name is engraved in Uganda’s landscape and institutions—there’s a street, people, and even a hall at Makerere University named in his honour,” Gen Mugira noted.
The General also briefed the delegation on NEC’s mandate as the business and commercial arm of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). NEC oversees a range of projects across sectors including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and engineering.
In a personal revelation, Gen Mugira proudly shared that he is an alumnus of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, class of 2002/2003, and encouraged the delegation to explore some of NEC’s flagship projects outside Kampala in future engagements.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Air Commodore Okai lauded NEC and the Ugandan government for their holistic approach to defence and development. He said Uganda was selected for the study visit because of its progressive policy in leveraging the Defence Forces for socio-economic transformation, particularly in tackling Climate Change, Environmental Security, and national development challenges.
Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi, who represented Lt Gen Mugira during a formal session, delivered a comprehensive presentation on NEC’s strategic role in Uganda’s development agenda. He underscored the significance of local defence industries in fostering national self-reliance, economic resilience, and technological innovation.
“Defence industries are a pillar of sovereignty. They reduce dependency on external suppliers and promote sustainability,” Gen Sabiiti said. He emphasized the pivotal role of Research and Development (R&D) in defence manufacturing, highlighting how military innovations such as night vision, satellite navigation, and digital imaging have found everyday civilian applications.
Gen Sabiiti also elaborated on NEC’s commitment to environmentally conscious development, balancing industrial growth with ecological preservation and community well-being.
The visit ended on a high note, strengthening defence diplomacy and fostering mutual learning between the two nations. Both sides expressed optimism about future collaboration, especially in defence industry innovation, training, and strategic development planning.