By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. The government of Russia donated topographic mapping equipment worth USD 3 million to Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF). The consignment of the equipment was handed over to at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters in Entebbe delivered by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Defence. The handover of the equipment was headed by Major General Sergey Marchuk, head of the Russian Military Specialists’ Office in Uganda, well as Brigadier General Paul Namawa, Chief of Staff of the Special Forces Command, who received it on behalf of the UPDF.
Benefits of topographic Mapping
The topographic mapping tools are designed to produce highly detailed and accurate representations of terrain, including elevation data, natural landscapes, and man-made structures. Such technology is essential for military planning and operations, as well as in civilian applications like urban development, disaster response, agriculture, and infrastructure planning. Russian donation reflects the ongoing military-technical cooperation between Uganda and Russia and highlights the enduring partnership between the two nations
Behind the donation
This is the second donation from the government of Russia to Uganda in just months. In August 2024, Russia donated USD 100 million to UPDF following instructions from President Vladimir Putin. The donation signalled the deepening of the military cooperation between Uganda and Russia. In recent years, the relations between the Republic of Uganda and Russia are growing steadily. In 2023 during the last Russia-Africa Summit, the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Russian counterpart Putin held discussions in St. Petersburg. According to highly placed sources, Russia has selected Uganda as a key strategic ally in Africa. Also in 2023, President Museveni commended Russia for its assistance to Africa in its fight against colonialism noting that since then, the Russians have proved great allies to Uganda. He added that Museveni said that Uganda is satisfied with its ties with Russia, especially in relation to cooperation in defence.It should be remembered that in May 2022, Uganda and Tanzania were among the 17 African countries out of 193 that voted to abstain—remain neutral—during the United Nation (UN) General Assembly’s emergency session convened to call for an immediate cessation of violence and withdrawal of the Russian military from Ukraine.
Russian-Ugandan cooperation in the military fields
The two countries have maintained strong ties, especially in military cooperation dating back to Uganda’s independence. In October 1962, Uganda and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations. In 1964, the two nations signed a trade agreement on economic and technical cooperation, which provided for a loan of 14 million rubbles to Uganda. Russian officers regularly assist Uganda to maintain military equipment and authorities recently gave a contract to a Russian firm that will install tracking devices in military vehicles to combat violent crime. In February 2023, the two countries launched PRO HELI International Service Limited, a joint venture with Uganda’s National Enterprise Corporation which specializes in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of civil and military helicopters.
Russian run the Pro Heli Plant International Services at Nakasongola Air Base, central Uganda where President Museveni recently commissioned into flight the first ever overhauled and upgraded Russian Type helicopter in sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda buys war jets, helicopters, artillery, and reconnaissance equipment from Russia. Russia pledged to turn Uganda into a regional hub for the development, upgrading, and maintenance of Russian military equipment and technology. The Uganda–Russia cooperation also extends fields such as academia, scientific research and development, technology, military training, among other fields. Military equipment purchase – Uganda and Russia have specifically cooperated in the defence sector. Uganda has on several occasions purchased Russian-made equipment including choppers. In 2022, the Defence Web, a South African-based website that monitors military purchases on the continent, last year reported that Uganda purchased new Mi-28 attack helicopters from Russia. The facility is the only one in the South of the Sahara and because of this, it will be used to repair, maintain, and overhaul Mi-24 choppers not only from Uganda but the region at large.
Recently the Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) also President Museveni’s son, held discussions with the Russian Head of the Technical Delegation in Uganda led by Volodin Vyacheslav in Uganda. The delegation was sent by the Russian Minister of Defence to explore ways of enhancing relations between the Russian Armed Forces (RAF) and the UPDF. The development signalled the deepening of the military cooperation between Uganda and Russia. On 25th July 2022, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Uganda to hold talks with President Museveni to strengthen ties with the East African country and sought support against Western pressure over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. During the meeting, President Museveni called for stronger bilateral relations, especially in the areas of defence and security, and economic and technical cooperation with Russia. Uganda and Russian governments are recently enjoying strong relations as the East African country is seen to be slowly moving away from the West. This followed Western nations slapping sanctions on some Ugandan authorities for their role in fighting LBGTQ and homosexuality in Uganda. In May 2023, the parliament of Uganda passed a law prescribing life and death sentences for certain acts of homosexuality, a move strongly criticized by some Western countries, including Britain and the United States (U.S).
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