Gabon’s President Nguema and First Lady Visit Uganda's Textile and Defence Industries

The Transitional President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, and the First Lady, Zita Oligui Nguema, last week visited Fine Spinners Uganda Limited, located on Spring Road, Kiswa Zone, Bugolobi, Kampala.

They were warmly welcomed by the company's Chairman, Jaswinder Bedi, and his son, Sav Bedi, the Chief Executive Officer. The tour showcased the factory's production process, from spinning and weaving to the final manufacture of various garments, including T-shirts, dresses, and uniforms.

Fine Spinners Uganda Limited specialises in producing sustainable, traceable cotton textiles and garments from high-quality Ugandan cotton. President Nguema expressed his admiration for Uganda's value addition efforts, championed by President Yoweri Museveni, and expressed a desire to collaborate on similar initiatives.

During the tour, President Nguema praised the factory's transformation of raw materials into finished products, highlighting his interest in partnering with Uganda to enhance value addition in both nations. CEO Sav Bedi noted that the factory employs over 1,500 Ugandans, with many products exported to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The economy of Gabon, with a population of over 2.4 million, largely depends on agriculture, forestry, minerals, oil, and tourism.

Later, the President and First Lady visited the Luwero Industries Complex, hosted by Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Managing Director of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), and Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi, General Manager of Luwero Industries. The tour included Pro-Heli International Services Limited, specialising in helicopter maintenance and upgrades, and the armoured vehicle manufacturing plant.

President Nguema expressed gratitude to President Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and the Ugandan government for their warm hospitality. He described the visit as fruitful and emphasised the importance of deepening cooperation between Gabon and Uganda in various sectors, including health, agriculture, and defence.

Lt. Gen. Mugira highlighted NEC's role in fostering self-reliance and building local capacity for strategic security. He stressed the importance of reducing defence dependency by manufacturing equipment within African nations. Maj. Gen. Sabiiti briefed the guests on the industry's activities, covering both military and civilian sectors.

The President was accompanied by a delegation that included Ugandan officials such as Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba. The visit concluded with a departure from Entebbe International Airport, where the President was seen off by Vice President Jessica Alupo and other senior officials.