UPDF to get sh2b technology grant
Nov 30, 2008
CHINA is to give the defence ministry a sh2.3b grant. The money will be spent to train the army, buy trucks, military equipment and build an information technology centre.
By Anthony Bugembe
CHINA is to give the defence ministry a sh2.3b grant. The money will be spent to train the army, buy trucks, military equipment and build an information technology centre.
Gen Jing Zhiyuam, the commander of the Chinese Second Artillery Force, handed over the grant agreement to defence permanent Secretary, Rosette Byengoma, at the ministry headquarters in Bombo recently.
Zhiyuam hailed the excellent friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
“China attaches great importance to enhancing friendship and cooperation in areas of trade, cultural and military exchange between the two countries,†Zhiyuan said.
He added that his delegation had come to learn from the UPDF.
The ceremony was witnessed by defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa, the UPDF chief of defence forces, Aronda Nyakairima, and other senior UPDF and Chinese military officers.
Nankabirwa thanked the chinese government for the aid. She urged Chinese firms to come and invest in Uganda.
Nyakairima said Chinese military aid had helped to modernise UPDF.
He requested Chinese military academy lecturers to come and teach at the UPDF Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, in order to share knowledge and expertise.
Nyakairima also hailed the excellent relationship between the UPDF and the two Chinese Ugandan–based companies – NORINCO and Medallion.
They deal in defence procurements from China and construction of barracks, training schools and office blocks.
Luweero Industries, built in the late 1980s to manufacture bullets, has outdated technology. Negotiations for its upgrade are going on between the UPDF and NORINCO.
CHINA is to give the defence ministry a sh2.3b grant. The money will be spent to train the army, buy trucks, military equipment and build an information technology centre.
Gen Jing Zhiyuam, the commander of the Chinese Second Artillery Force, handed over the grant agreement to defence permanent Secretary, Rosette Byengoma, at the ministry headquarters in Bombo recently.
Zhiyuam hailed the excellent friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
“China attaches great importance to enhancing friendship and cooperation in areas of trade, cultural and military exchange between the two countries,†Zhiyuan said.
He added that his delegation had come to learn from the UPDF.
The ceremony was witnessed by defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa, the UPDF chief of defence forces, Aronda Nyakairima, and other senior UPDF and Chinese military officers.
Nankabirwa thanked the chinese government for the aid. She urged Chinese firms to come and invest in Uganda.
Nyakairima said Chinese military aid had helped to modernise UPDF.
He requested Chinese military academy lecturers to come and teach at the UPDF Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, in order to share knowledge and expertise.
Nyakairima also hailed the excellent relationship between the UPDF and the two Chinese Ugandan–based companies – NORINCO and Medallion.
They deal in defence procurements from China and construction of barracks, training schools and office blocks.
Luweero Industries, built in the late 1980s to manufacture bullets, has outdated technology. Negotiations for its upgrade are going on between the UPDF and NORINCO.