Army joins quest for industrialization

By Francis Otucu

Senior UPDF leaders have emphasized the strategic value of apprenticeship in Uganda’s quest to industrialize.
This was a finding during their tour of the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) – Machining, Manufacturing and Industrial Skills Training Centre (MMISTC) Project located at the Industrial and Business Park, Namanve.

Led by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi, they commended both the Uganda Government and head of UIRI Prof. Charles Kwesiga for a progressive approach in tackling challenges to development, singling skills development as one of them.

While taking the officers on a guided tour of both the skilling and manufacturing Centre, Prof. Kwesiga briefed officers on the objectives of the project, which he said are:

1. Developing a machining and manufacturing facility that employs state of the art technologies.
2. Focusing on manufacturing precision machined parts.
3. Training facilities that engage in modern pedagogy using industrial grade machines.
4. Manufacturing products to generate revenue and sustain the project and
5. c) Establishing workshops that will provide a platform for apprenticeship for technicians.

Gen Muhoozi expressed UPDF’s interest in partnering with UIRI to boost capacity within the forces’ engineering department and also act as a vehicle for skilling soldiers in preparation for their life after retirement.

Some of the skills training programmes to be conducted at this centre include: Computer Aided Engineering Design and Manufacturing, tie and dye production, precision machining, welding and fabrication, non-destructive laboratory testing, electronics and electoral systems design, among others.
The center will boost the competitiveness of local industries, create a hub for robotic training and manufacturing that should contribute to easing manual industrious initiatives as well as produce high value human resource that will contribute to the effective operation of both the centre and the manufacturing sector.
The CDF was accompanied by his deputy, Lt. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, Joint Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, MD National Enterprise Corporation Lt. Gen. James Mugira and Commander Engineers Brigade Maj. Gen. Timothy Sabiiti among others.