President Yoweri Museveni, this week on Wednesday (July 27), will launch the country’s second armoured vehicle factory in Nakasongola.

The factory was built by the United Arab Emirates firm, Streit Group, in partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commercial arm that produces goods and services, the cars are for both civilians and military.

Army officials said the company, NEC-Streit Uganda Ltd, will provide a variety of security solutions, including technology transfer between UAE and Uganda.

“In addition to developing Uganda’s defence sector, NEC-Streit Uganda will, according to NEC, support the defence, healthcare, and industrial sectors as well as the railway industry,” a statement issued by Streit Group noted.

Recently, UPDF has asked Ugandans to order for armoured cars from the Nakasongola factory.

“The construction of the armoured vehicle factory in Nakasongola by National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), is ready for commissioning. You can begin making orders for your armoured cars,” NEC officials said.

“Cars are for both civilians and military,” officials added in a statement.

Under the arrangement, civilians can also take their vehicles to the factory for amour-systems to be fixed and customised.

NEC did not disclose how much an armoured vehicle will cost in Uganda.

However, on the global market, armouring packages range from $30,000 (about sh113m) to $90, 000 (about sh330m), depending on the level of customisation.

NEC-Streit Uganda Ltd is the second armoire vehicle manufacturing company to be launched in the country.

In August 2018, Museveni officially launched the first  armoured vehicle manufacturing and assembly facility in Maga Maga, Jinja.

“Its first product was the Mamba-based Nyoka armoured personnel carrier, created in collaboration with South Africa’s Twiga Services and Logistics via its Ugandan sister company Impala Services and Logistics. Manufacture and assembly of the vehicles began in 2013 under a transfer of technology agreement,” army officials said.

  Armoured vehicle, Museveni, Nakasongola