Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned a Russian-donated military equipment repair facility valued at about $53 million, strengthening Uganda’s capacity to maintain armored and mechanized vehicles domestically.
A Russian delegation led by Lt Gen Aleksandr Kshimovskiy attended the ceremony, which took place on October 22 at Magamaga Cantonment in Jinja district, during a two-day program highlighting Uganda–Russia defense cooperation, according to Watchdog Uganda.
The Ugandan president thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the support and urged the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) to move beyond acquiring foreign equipment toward local repair, maintenance and eventual manufacturing, including through artificial intelligence and modern military technology.
“What if we made them here with the Russians? We should not only get the good equipment but also learn from them,” President Museveni said.
Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka said the partnership had strengthened Uganda’s military infrastructure, while Kshimovskii reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to supply required equipment.
The October 21-22 program also included the launch of a digital multimedia classroom for soldiers operating Russian-made BRDM-2MS armored reconnaissance vehicles.
The Magamaga facility is intended to enable the UPDF to service, refurbish and modernise mechanized and armored vehicles locally, reducing dependence on external maintenance providers. It forms part of a Russian package announced in October 2025, which included obstacle-clearing equipment, trench diggers, boats, workshops and a coastal station.
Russia’s ambassador said at the time that the assistance would be delivered in two phases, with the second covering the Magamaga repair facility, a patrol-boat storage site and a floating pier in Entebbe.
Russia has been a longstanding supplier of combat aircraft, helicopters, tanks and armoured vehicles to Uganda. The two countries also operate the PRO HELI International Limited joint venture, established between the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) - the commercial arm of the Uganda People's Defence Forces, and Proheli International, a Russian-linked aviation company for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of civil and military helicopters.
Uganda has received a significant amount of military hardware from Russia in recent years, including Mi-28 attack helicopters, T-90 tanks, and Mi-171 transport helicopters. In 2022, Uganda commissioned a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for UPDF Mi-24 helicopters.
