Wakiso, Uganda – Uganda has taken a monumental leap in regional defence manufacturing with the official commissioning of the NEC-STREIT Armoured Vehicle Showroom in Abayita Ababiri, Wakiso District.
The high-profile event was presided over by the Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Veteran Affairs), Hon. Huda Oleru Abason, representing the Minister of Defence, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth.
The showroom is the first of its kind in Uganda and is a product of the strategic joint venture between Uganda’s National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and Streit Group, a global leader in armoured vehicle production.
It is set to transform the landscape of security logistics, providing a cutting-edge platform for showcasing military-grade and civilian-use armoured vehicles built at the NEC-STREIT Assembly Plant in Nakasongola.
“This facility isn’t just for the army or the police—it’s for any sector that operates in high-risk environments,” Hon. Huda declared. “Financial institutions, humanitarian organizations, and researchers working in volatile areas can now access secure, locally-built transport solutions.”
The new showroom is designed not only as an exhibition space but also as a vital bridge between production and procurement.
According to NEC Managing Director Lt Gen. James Mugira, it forms part of a forward-thinking marketing strategy that puts Uganda’s growing defence capacity directly in front of clients.
“Security clients can now interact with and test our vehicles before making decisions,” Gen. Mugira said. “This facility symbolizes confidence, innovation, and readiness.”
Among the advanced vehicles on display are Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, armoured ambulances, riot-control trucks, and cash-in-transit vans—each representing Uganda’s growing ability to engineer complex security solutions.
Since the NEC-STREIT venture began in 2019, over 100 Ugandans have been trained in advanced vehicle engineering, a milestone Gen. Mugira noted as proof of the partnership’s commitment to local capacity building.
Chairman and CEO of Streit Group, Mr. Guerman Goutorov, praised Uganda’s unwavering dedication to security innovation and industrial self-reliance. He revealed the partnership is already expanding its vision to include drone-based surveillance and aerial defence technologies.
The commissioning ceremony attracted top-tier dignitaries from both the public and private sectors, including Maj Gen Apollo Kasita Gowa (Director, DCIC), Lt Gen Charles Okidi (Commander, Air Force Base), Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba (Chief of Joint Staff), and leading businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia.
This historic milestone adds to Uganda’s increasing reputation as a regional hub for innovation in defence manufacturing, aligning with the national Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy and Vision 2040 agenda for industrialization.
The NEC-STREIT showroom stands as a powerful statement: Uganda is not only securing its borders—but also securing its future.
