The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Veteran Affairs), Huda Oleru Abason, on Wednesday 23rd April 2025 commissioned the NEC-STREIT Armoured Vehicle Showroom in Abayita Ababiri, Wakiso District.
The showroom is a joint initiative between Uganda’s National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and Streit Group, a global leader in armoured vehicle manufacturing. It serves as a central exhibition space for vehicles produced at the NEC-STREIT Assembly Plant in Nakasongola.
“This showroom is not only for the army and police,” Hon. Huda said. “It is for researchers, financial institutions transporting cash, humanitarian workers in insecure areas, and others whose work requires secure mobility.”
Huda praised the partnership for strengthening Uganda’s capacity in defence manufacturing and promoting the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy through local production, technology transfer, and skills development.
She conveyed support from the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making Uganda a regional hub for defence innovation.
NEC Managing Director, Lt Gen. James Mugira, said the facility brings products closer to clients. “This is part of our forward-looking marketing strategy. Clients can inspect, test, and engage with the vehicles before procurement,” he said.
He listed several types of vehicles manufactured in Nakasongola, including Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, armoured ambulances, riot control units, and cash-in-transit vans.
Gen. Mugira also noted that over 100 Ugandans have received training in advanced armoured vehicle production as part of the venture’s workforce development programme.
Guerman Goutorov, Chairman and CEO of Streit Group, described the venture as a long-term investment in Africa’s security. “Our partnership is about more than vehicles. It’s about building local capacity and bringing global expertise to Uganda,” he said.
He added that NEC-STREIT is exploring drone-based surveillance and other advanced security technologies to expand Uganda’s defence capabilities.
The launch attracted senior military officers, security officials, and private sector leaders, including Maj Gen Apollo Kasita Gowa, Lt Gen Charles Okidi, Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba, and businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia.
Commissioned in 2022, the NEC-STREIT plant in Nakasongola is among a few armoured vehicle manufacturing facilities on the continent. The new showroom makes the company’s products more accessible to clients from both public and private sectors.
The NEC-STREIT joint venture focuses on assembling and supplying high-performance armoured vehicles designed by Ugandan engineers with support from international experts.
