To borrow public relations language, it’s safe to say the ‘flagship’ service of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) is to provide peace and security.
Banking on the peace and security in the country, the minds of our gallant soldiers are waging war against reliance on imported products. As you read this, UPDF officers are on the frontline of this ‘economic war’.
UPDF is manufacturing or assembling various products thus creating a self-reliant and self-sustaining eco-system that could save as an ideal model for African progress. Indeed, this is the fundamental change in swift action!
The mandate to be productive UPDF is mandated to serve as a productive force. The National Enterprise Corporation, which in layman’s terms, could pass for the ‘commercial wing’ of the force as established in 1989 by an Act of Parliament to produce goods and services that are beneficial to the Defence Forces and the general public.
The commercial ventures are taken through its subsidiaries and joint ventures. Here are some of the products proudly associated with the UPDF!
Ulinzi condoms
UPDF has literally turned the guns on HIV/ AIDS. UPDF officers will no longer rely on hand outs from the Ministry of Health. Our sexually active officers will save extra cash to save thanks to Ulinzi condoms.
Yes, UPDF has also introduced their own made condoms! The Chief of Staff Land Forces Brig Leopold Kyanda launched the ‘Ulinzi’ condom brand at UPDF and Forces Headquarters in Bombo on Monday, October 1.
‘Ulinzi’, is a Swahili word for protection. The camouflage branded condom carries a tagline, ‘Usiende Nyama Kwa Nyama’ , loosely translating to ‘don’t engage in live sex.’ Brig Kyanda described HIV/AIDS as a threat to national security.
He revealed that 18 out of 60 military officers tested HIV Positive while on a course in Cuba in 1986 forcing the country to deport them.
According to Brig Kyanda, this motivated President Museveni to lead the country in combating HIV /AIDS through a multisectoral response mechanism.
The condom is manufactured with support from partners PACE and University Research Company.
Armoured ‘Mamaba’ vehicles
Forget about the Arua by-election incident, UPDF assemblies armoured vehicles! In 2012 the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) contracted Impala Services and Logistics, a sister company of South Africa’s Twiga Services and Logistics, to design a Mamba class armoured vehicle for manufacture in Uganda.
Under the programme, the armour plate is cut and bent in South Africa and shipped out to the client country for manufacture and assembly.
Some armour steel is now sourced directly from Sweden, which is cut using a state of the art plasma cutter which was recently installed at the facility under the Transfer of Technology programme.
In 2012 the first two Nyokas were supplied for operational evaluations. In 2013 the manufacture and assembly of the Nyoka began in earnest in Uganda under a transfer of technology programme which continues today. The Armoured Vehicle Facility at Maga Maga Barracks, Mayuge district has produced 20 Nyoka APC and another ten are currently being produced.
Uzima Mineral Water
In 2015, UPDF launched ‘Uzima Mineral Water’, their mineral water brand under the Chieftaincy of Welfare and Production. Though the market is quite competitive with several players and of course, the competition from soft drinks and beverages, Uzima Mineral Water is yet another surprising product of the national army.
Orthopedic legs
UPDF is also involved in making prosthetic legs for officers who have been amputated or injured in battle. The products include prosthetic limbs and shoes to ease mobility.
UPDF Construction Services UPDF boosts of a construction wing with several officers engaged in construction works. These have constructed several staff houses and other construction projects as designated to the men in uniform.