Uganda acquires $100m firefighting equipment

By David Mugabe

President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned 49 hi-tech firefighting equipment to avert the massive loss of life and property suffered in the past years across the country.

The fire equipment secured with a $100m loan from the Exim Chinese bank came alongside the road maintenance equipment that was distributed in June 2012.

“For the first time, Uganda Police will have the capability to fight fires on water,” said Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura in Bweyogerere outside the industrial park.

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PHOTO/Nicholas Oneal

During the unveiling of the equipment, Museveni reiterated three critical pillars to Uganda’s modernizing efforts among them the presence of a rising spending consumer population and producer base.

“Once you have these people (consumers), the purchasing habits start changing, in the past they were buying ‘tonto’ now they want cars, modern houses and perfumes,” said Museveni.

Museveni said the second pillar is the producers citing the example of China whose biggest wealth he said is the over 1 billion population who he said has forced European companies to go and produce in China.

“You here in Africa are busy dividing consumers into tribes-Acholi, Baganda, Banyankole. But the consumer plus the producer need a third player-government which provides security,” said Museveni saying the firefighting equipment is a form of security.

Museveni cautioned police against the vices of alcohol, greed and AIDS asking them to be patient and emulate long serving police officer Josephine Kakooza, the assistant commissioner of police who was in attendance and was recognized by the President. Kakooza has served since 1969 with no blemish on her record.