Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has held high-level talks with the leadership of China’s largest defence contractor, China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO), as part of a broader push to strengthen military and technological cooperation between Uganda and China.
Gen Kainerugaba — who also serves as Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations — led a delegation of senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commanders, including Maj Gen Felix Busizoori and Maj Gen Dan Kakono, to NORINCO’s headquarters, where they were received by the company’s President, Mr Chen Defang, and other top executives.
NORINCO, the world’s largest defence contractor by revenue, posted US$82.6 billion in earnings for 2023. The company has a longstanding relationship with the UPDF dating back to 1986.
The visit included a comprehensive tour of NORINCO’s advanced defence and technological facilities, followed by in-depth discussions focusing on strategic defence cooperation, military modernization, and future technology transfer.
Gen Kainerugaba’s visit comes on the heels of a busy diplomatic and military itinerary in China, where he also attended the prestigious Beijing Xiangshan Forum — an international platform for security dialogue. There, he engaged with military leaders from across the globe to deliberate on pressing peace and security challenges.
A key outcome of the CDF’s visit was the signing of a new military cooperation agreement between Uganda and China, presided over by Gen Kainerugaba and Gen Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission of China.
The agreement is expected to deepen collaboration in military training, technological innovation, and strategic operations.
Reflecting on Uganda’s enduring partnership with NORINCO and China’s defence sector, Gen Kainerugaba expressed optimism about future collaboration.
He emphasized the importance of technology exchange in enhancing Uganda’s military capabilities.
NORINCO’s leadership welcomed the CDF’s visit, reiterating their commitment to supporting Uganda’s defence modernization agenda and strengthening bilateral military ties.
The delegation’s engagements also included a diplomatic meeting with Mr Liu Yuxi, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, further underscoring the strategic and geopolitical significance of the visit.
Additionally, the UPDF delegation visited the headquarters of China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), a major aviation technology firm, signaling Uganda’s growing interest in diversifying its defence partnerships and advancing its aerospace capabilities.
This series of high-level meetings highlights Uganda’s strategic efforts to bolster its defence diplomacy, with China emerging as a key partner in military and technological development.
