The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has welcomed a delegation from China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO), led by the corporation’s General Manager of the African and American Department, Mr. Liang Hongda, to discuss the longstanding partnership between the two entities.
During the meeting held on June 25, 2024, at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters in Entebbe, Gen. Kainerugaba said both sides appreciated their cooperation and looked forward to strengthening the 38-year-long strategic relationship that began in 1986 between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Chinese defence.
“Our partnership with NORINCO has been crucial in shaping the capabilities of the UPDF over the past 38 years; we look forward to strengthening this strategic collaboration even further in the years to come,” stated Gen. Kainerugaba.
Brig. Gen. Dan Kakono, the UPDF Artillery Division Commander, emphasised the importance of the longstanding relationship between the UPDF and NORINCO. He noted that the partnership has been instrumental in equipping the UPDF with state-of-the-art defence systems and technologies.
“We are grateful for NORINCO’s continued support and look forward to exploring new avenues of cooperation,” Brig. Gen. Kakono said.
NORINCO established a cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) workshop in Nakasongola, which is dedicated to the final assembly, testing, maintenance, and training of UAVs, which the UPDF states is a new important field for defence modernization.
The Chinese delegation also extended an invitation for the Ugandan General to visit China, as he last visited 14 years ago. The meeting underlined the deep-rooted ties between Uganda and China as the two nations continue to strengthen their strategic partnership in the defence and security spheres.
Norinco, one of the top Chinese arms manufacturers, is the primary supplier of military equipment to the UPDF. NORINCO has supplied the UPDF with CS/VP3 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), which are in the category of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. Uganda also recently acquired the VN-2C, an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), from NORINCO. It is the largest aerospace and defence company in the world, with an annual revenue turnover of over 82 billion dollars.
