Gen Mugira Hosts Ghana Armed Forces Delegation.

Yesterday,6th May 2025, Lt Gen James Mugira, Managing Director of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), warmly welcomed a delegation of students and staff from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College Senior Intake 46 to the NEC Headquarters in Bugolobi, Kampala led by Air Commodore Thomas Niifio Okai.

Gen Mugira expressed gratitude to the delegation for choosing Uganda as the destination for their study visit, highlighting the long-standing cordial relationships between Ghana and Uganda. Both countries, having been colonized by Britain, share a common history and struggle for liberation.

Gen Mugira praised Kwame Nkurumah, a renowned African freedom fighter, whose legacy is revered in Uganda, with streets, people, and even a hall at Makerere University named after him.

Gen Mugira briefed the delegation on the role of NEC, informing them that it serves as the commercial and business arm of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

Notably, Gen Mugira revealed that he is an alumnus of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, class of 2002/3. He invited the delegation to visit some of NEC’s projects outside Kampala in the future.

Air Commodore Thomas Niifio Okai thanked Gen Mugira for the warm reception and informed him that the delegation chose Uganda due to its progressive policy on Defence Forces’ contribution to socio-economic development, particularly in addressing Climate Change, Environmental Security, and Development.

 The delegation comprised students from the West African region, representing countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone.

Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi presented on behalf of Lt Gen James Mugira, delivering a comprehensive presentation on the role of NEC in Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. He highlighted the importance of defence industries in shaping geopolitical dynamics, economic development, and technological innovation.

Gen Sabiiti emphasized that local defence industries provide self-reliance, sustainability, and autonomy, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

The presentation also touched on the significance of Research and Development (R&D) in Defence Industries, particularly in high-technology weapon systems.

 Gen Sabiiti noted that defence industries drive technological advancements, citing examples such as digital photography, night vision, and satellite navigation, which have civilian applications.

Furthermore, Gen Sabiiti discussed NEC’s efforts in balancing development with environmental concerns, ensuring sustainable development and human well-being. He concluded that NEC has played a multidimensional role in Uganda’s socio-economic transformation, contributing to infrastructure development, job creation, revenue generation, and import substitution.

The visit fostered a spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two nations’ defence institutions, with both sides benefiting from the exchange of ideas and experiences.