Somalia President Visits Luwero Industries, Hails Museveni

The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was Tuesday hosted at Luweero Industries Limited in Nakasongola District.

The President was accompained by the Managing Director of National Enterprises Cooperation (NEC) Lt Gen James Mugira, the General Manager Luwero Industries Limited (LIL) Maj Gen Sabiti Muzeyi and other senior staff members of Luweero Industries Limited.

Mugira welcomed Mohamud and congratulated him upon his election to the high office of Somalia.

He explained that Luweero Industries Limited (LIL) is a state corporation owned by the Government of Uganda (GOU) under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) and NEC.

“Luweero Industries is named after the area of Luweero which was the cradle of the NRA liberation struggle,” he said.

He added that it is the birthplace of the Ugandan revolution because it is the place where the struggle for the liberation of this country was launched.

“On behalf of National Enterprises Corporation, we look forward to closer collaboration and cooperation with the Federal Republic of Somalia, especially in the area of Defence,” he observed.

Sabiti noted that the UPDF, in addition to the original task of defending the sovereignty of the country, also plays a key role in the socio-economic development of the country as a sustainable commercial arm of MODVA amongst the Defence Forces, the veterans and the civil society.

The President of Somalia congratulated the UPDF under the leadership of Museveni for not only defending the country but also developing it as well. “This is a real development for this country and the East African Community (EAC) at large” he noted.

In his closing remarks, he said that Somalia is looking forward to benefit from the experience as well since it has now started collaborating and building the basis for future engagement.

Mohamud toured various factories among which were VEBA, the Nitrogen and Oxygen plant and the mask production plant. He was then guided to Kyoga Dynamics that manufactures commercial explosives like emulsion, detonators and ANFO (Ammonium nitrate–fuel oil) explosives.

He later proceeded to NEC-STREIT Group that deals in the manufacture of armoured vehicles and boats for both the civilian and army components and concluded with Pro-Heli International Services plant that deals in the overhaul, repair, maintenance and upgrade of MI brand of helicopters.

President Mohamud was accompanied by Abdul Kabir Mohamed, minister of Defence; Abshir Umar Jamah, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Gibrir Abdul Rashid, minister of Commerce and Industry; Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, Uganda’s Minister of Defence; and Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia Maj Gen Nathan Mugisha among others.