The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) has received a substantial donation of engineering and naval equipment from the Russian Federation, valued at approximately $53 million (184 billion Ugandan shillings). The official handover ceremony took place on Sunday, October 26, at the College of Logistics and Engineering in Magamaga, presided over by President Yoweri Museveni and Russian Ambassador Vladlen Semivolos.
This delivery underscores the deepening military-technical cooperation between Kampala and Moscow, providing the UPDF with specialised capabilities for obstacle clearance, field fortification, and maritime patrol.
Heavy Engineering Capabilities
The core of the donation focuses on heavy mechanisation designed to enhance the UPDF’s operational efficiency in rugged terrain.
Central to this package are two IMR armoured engineering vehicles. The IMR is built on the chassis of the T-55 main battle tank, a platform already familiar to Ugandan logistics and maintenance crews. It replaces the tank’s turret with a heavy-duty hydraulic crane and is fitted with a multi-angle dozer blade. This configuration allows the vehicle to operate in combat zones, clearing debris, filling craters, and creating paths for assault columns while under armour protection.
The shipment also included a TMK-2 wheeled trench digger. This specialised vehicle features a rotary earth cutter mounted on a heavy wheeled chassis. It is capable of excavating trenches for infantry or pipelines far more rapidly than manual labour, a capability President Museveni noted would save both time and manpower in field operations.
Supporting these primary assets were two GAZ-66 tactical trucks equipped with shelters and two towed generators to provide independent field power.
Maritime and Riverine Expansion
In addition to land systems, the Russian donation included naval assets aimed at bolstering Uganda’s waterborne security, likely for operations on Lake Victoria or riverine borders.
The package featured a Project BL-820 boat. These are versatile, rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) used extensively by the Russian Navy for patrol, search and rescue, and anti-sabotage missions. Two smaller RHIBs manufactured by the Russian firm Mnev & Co were also delivered. These craft provide high-speed mobility for interception and troop insertion duties.
Strategic Infrastructure and MRO
Ambassador Semivolos confirmed that the equipment delivery represents only the first phase of a broader support agreement. The second phase is infrastructure-focused and is scheduled for completion by September 2026. This phase includes the construction of a maintenance and repair facility in Magamaga, a dedicated storage site for patrol boats, and a modern floating pier at Entebbe.
The newly launched workshop at Magamaga is intended to enable the local repair, refurbishment, and modernisation of mechanised and armoured vehicles. This aligns with a broader trend among African militaries to reduce dependency on foreign contractors by building indigenous Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capacities.
This follows Uganda’s previous collaboration with Russian industry. In 2022, the UPDF commissioned a helicopter MRO facility in collaboration with Pro-heli International to service its fleet of Mi-24 attack helicopters. This existing infrastructure, combined with the new engineering workshops, positions Uganda to maintain a higher state of readiness for its Soviet- and Russian-origin hardware without relying on external shipping for repairs.
“historic friendship” between Uganda and Russia
President Museveni characterised the donation as a continuation of the “historic friendship” between Uganda and Russia, tracing the relationship back to Soviet-era support for anti-colonial movements. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the continued support and urged officials to expand cooperation into humanitarian projects.
In August 2024, Uganda’s deepened ties with Russia, including a pledge made at the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit to establish the country as a regional hub for the maintenance of previously delivered military equipment and the production of modern small arms, reflect the nation’s strategic goal of bolstering its defence capabilities and regional influence.
A large Russian military delegation visited Uganda, where it met with the head of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) on August 22. The delegation, sent by Russian defence minister Andrey Belousov, was tasked with “strengthening ties between the countries’ armed forces”, the UPDF said.
The visit follows Ugandan army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s trip to Moscow. The African country’s Special Forces Command also held meetings with senior Russian military officials recently, according to the UPDF.
The relationship between Moscow and Kampala dates back to the 1960s. Uganda purchases Russian military equipment, including jets, helicopters, artillery and reconnaissance equipment.
Analysts note that this package is one of the largest single bilateral military donations Uganda has received in recent years. It illustrates Russia’s renewed engagement in Africa, positioning itself as a reliable partner for nations seeking to diversify their defence relationships amid shifting global power dynamics.
The ceremony also saw senior Russian and Ugandan officers exchanging military medals, further cementing ties between the two armed forces. Uganda remains a significant operator of Russian hardware, with recent acquisitions including Mi-28 “Havoc” attack helicopters, T-90 main battle tanks, and Mi-171 transport helicopters.
