CDF Commends UPDF Engineers As Defence Headquarters Nears December Completion

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has commended the UPDF Engineering Brigade as construction of the new Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA)/UPDF complex reaches 87% completion, keeping the project firmly on track for commissioning in December.

Addressing engineers and construction personnel on Monday during a site visit at the military headquarters in Mbuya, Gen Kainerugaba praised their steadfast commitment to delivering the landmark complex.

Reassuring the workforce that their efforts would not go unrewarded, the CDF pledged special appreciation once the facility is handed over.

Constructed entirely by the UPDF Engineering Brigade, the project officially broke ground in August 2024.

The initiative was launched to resolve decades of fragmented office setups and provide Uganda’s armed forces with a consolidated command hub.

At earlier project milestones, Gen Kainerugaba highlighted that housing the defence ministry in a comfortable setting directly boosts operational efficiency and military coordination, noting that modern infrastructure remains essential for supporting contemporary defence strategies.

Designed as a twin-tower complex, the facility is equipped to streamline decision-making between the civilian ministry and operational military leadership.

The installation incorporates advanced communication hubs, high-tech command installations, and digital operational systems.

Site security has also been upgraded with a two-kilometre perimeter fence, modernised quarter guards, and dedicated alternative access routes.

Initially expected to take longer, the project gained rapid momentum following directives from the CDF to accelerate timelines while maintaining high-quality standards.

Upon its anticipated opening in December, the new headquarters will replace outdated administrative units on Mbuya Hill, establishing a unified base for the country’s military command.

During the site visit, the CDF was taken on a guided tour by lead engineers Col James Lwegaba, Joint Staff Engineering, Col Robert Chabo the Project Engineer and the site engineer, Captain Kikomeko Kigongo. The tour was also conducted in the presence of the UPDF Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba; the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Edith Butuuro; and other senior UPDF and MoDVA leaders.