UPDF selling weapons to private firms
The UPDF ammunition factory at Nakasongola has gone commercial, selling small arms to private companies as well as exporting the bullets to the neighbouring states.<br>
By Grace Matsiko
The UPDF ammunition factory at Nakasongola has gone commercial, selling small arms to private companies as well as exporting the bullets to the neighbouring states.
The factory, trading under Luweero Industries Limited, a subsidiary of the National Enterprises Corporation (NEC), has been fabricating armoured cars which are sold to the Ministry of Defence. It also repairs guns, officials said yesterday.
“We are now a commercial enterprise. We can make old guns new and sell then to individuals and private companies as long as they have clearance from the Police,†an officer at the factory, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
The officer said the repaired AK47 guns at the factory cost about US$150 (about sh300,000).
The officer said the factory had been exporting bullets to neighbouring states as well as producing for the UPDF. He refused to name the countries.
The factory can produce up to 20 lots, each lot consisting of 12 huge boxes of ammunition. Each bullet is said to cost about US$6 (about sh12,000) depending on the gun category.
The Commercial Court is currently hearing a firearms supply dispute between two private security firms. Securex Agencies (Uganda) Limited has sued Car Trackers Uganda Limited, another security company, for alleged breach of contract involving 32 semi-automatic rifles worth sh10, 5000,000.
Car Trackers claimed they paid for the guns it bought at the Nakasongola-based factory which it was supposed to supply to Securex.
Luweero Industries general manager Jacqueline Mbabazi, defence minister Amama Mbabazi’s wife, could not be got for a comment.
Mrs. Mbabazi took over management of the company about two years ago from Capt. Innocent Bisangwa, now said to be in private practice.
But army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said he was not aware the factory was selling arms to private companies and individuals.
“We can’t sell arms to local or foreign companies. We produce what we consume ourselves,†Bantariza said.
He said a decision to sell arms to private companies and individuals by the management could only be taken after consultations with the UPDF High Command.
Other companies under NEC include NEC Lime (Dura), NEC pharmaceutical, NEC Katonga Farm and UPDF Tailoring Unit.
NEC has been engaged in cleaning services at Mulago Hospital Complex.
Other sources said the Nakasongola factory also used to repair arms for the Rwanda armed forces before misunderstandings erupted between the two countries.
The National Enterprises Corporation was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1995 to produce goods for the army.
The UPDF ammunition factory at Nakasongola has gone commercial, selling small arms to private companies as well as exporting the bullets to the neighbouring states.
The factory, trading under Luweero Industries Limited, a subsidiary of the National Enterprises Corporation (NEC), has been fabricating armoured cars which are sold to the Ministry of Defence. It also repairs guns, officials said yesterday.
“We are now a commercial enterprise. We can make old guns new and sell then to individuals and private companies as long as they have clearance from the Police,†an officer at the factory, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
The officer said the repaired AK47 guns at the factory cost about US$150 (about sh300,000).
The officer said the factory had been exporting bullets to neighbouring states as well as producing for the UPDF. He refused to name the countries.
The factory can produce up to 20 lots, each lot consisting of 12 huge boxes of ammunition. Each bullet is said to cost about US$6 (about sh12,000) depending on the gun category.
The Commercial Court is currently hearing a firearms supply dispute between two private security firms. Securex Agencies (Uganda) Limited has sued Car Trackers Uganda Limited, another security company, for alleged breach of contract involving 32 semi-automatic rifles worth sh10, 5000,000.
Car Trackers claimed they paid for the guns it bought at the Nakasongola-based factory which it was supposed to supply to Securex.
Luweero Industries general manager Jacqueline Mbabazi, defence minister Amama Mbabazi’s wife, could not be got for a comment.
Mrs. Mbabazi took over management of the company about two years ago from Capt. Innocent Bisangwa, now said to be in private practice.
But army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said he was not aware the factory was selling arms to private companies and individuals.
“We can’t sell arms to local or foreign companies. We produce what we consume ourselves,†Bantariza said.
He said a decision to sell arms to private companies and individuals by the management could only be taken after consultations with the UPDF High Command.
Other companies under NEC include NEC Lime (Dura), NEC pharmaceutical, NEC Katonga Farm and UPDF Tailoring Unit.
NEC has been engaged in cleaning services at Mulago Hospital Complex.
Other sources said the Nakasongola factory also used to repair arms for the Rwanda armed forces before misunderstandings erupted between the two countries.
The National Enterprises Corporation was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1995 to produce goods for the army.