KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Mr Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, has revealed that Uganda, through Nytil Factory has started exporting army uniforms to Equatorial Guinea.
Ssempijja made the remarks on Wednesday as Uganda flagged off 5,400 cartons of uniforms and accessories for export to the West African country at Entebbe International Airport.
“I want to thank the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for choosing to trade with Uganda. On behalf of President Museveni, I wish to specifically thank His Excellency the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea Obiang Nguema Mangue who has been behind this strategic effort to link our brotherly countries in the sphere of trade and investments,” Ssempijja said.
“Uganda and Equatorial Guinea have been cooperating in so many areas including the defence and security sectors. I am glad today (Wednesday) the scope of our cooperation has expanded into trade,” he added.
The minister said more countries have promised to work with Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other entities. But he declined to name any of the said countries.
“I want to thank the President for having good defence cooperative agreements with most of the African states. This type of cooperation is very central to transforming the respective economies for the mutual benefit of the African people.”
He encouraged other sectors to borrow a leaf from Nytil by exploiting the available market opportunities in the region and far so that together as a country, they are able to build a resilient economy.
Speaking on behalf of Southern Range Nyanza Limited (Nytil) manufactured the uniforms, Mr Richard Mubiru, the Director, said the company has supplied uniforms to the UPDF for more than two decades and is excited about the Equatorial Guinea deal.
“Nytil aims at other regional markets beyond EAC and it’s confident with the sustained support received from the government of Uganda, the sky shall be the limit,” he said.
“Such initiatives are critical in reducing the trade deficit of Uganda, knowing that Uganda imported goods and services worth USD10 billion in 2022 while she exported only about USD 6.0 Billion resulting into the USD 4.0 billion deficit that must be addressed by exporters in Uganda,” he added.
Nytil also produces uniforms for Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan armies.
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