Parliament's Defence Committee Tours NEC Headquarters, Commends Gen Mugira’s Leadership

BUGOLOBI, September 15, 2026 — The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs has conducted an oversight visit to the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) headquarters in Bugolobi, Kampala, as part of efforts to gain a deeper understanding of the Corporation’s operations and its contribution to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

The delegation was led by Hon. Shafigah Wanyenya, Member of Parliament for Bungokho North County, who represented the Committee’s Vice Chairperson, Hon. Linos Ngompek, during the visit.

The Committee exercises parliamentary oversight over parastatals and government agencies under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The visit provided an opportunity for legislators to engage NEC management on the Corporation’s mandate, management structure, operations, the strategic importance of defence industries and NEC’s contribution to national development.

The delegation was received by Lt Gen James Mugira, the Managing Director of NEC and Member of Parliament representing the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF).

In her remarks, Hon. Wanyenya said the visit was undertaken in fulfilment of the Committee’s constitutional and parliamentary oversight responsibilities.

She invited Lt Gen Mugira to brief the Committee on NEC’s operations, achievements, strategic role and challenges, while also highlighting areas where Parliament could provide support to enable the Corporation to effectively execute its mandate.

Lt Gen Mugira subsequently delivered a comprehensive presentation covering NEC’s mandate and management, the role and significance of defence industries and the Corporation’s contribution to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

The presentation gave members of the Committee an insight into NEC’s various activities and the strategic role of a state-owned enterprise operating within the defence and industrial development space.

The legislators commended Lt Gen Mugira for the detailed presentation, saying it had provided them with valuable knowledge about the Corporation’s operations and its wider contribution to the country.

Members also expressed appreciation for what they described as the transformation of NEC under Gen Mugira’s leadership, noting the importance of strengthening institutions under parliamentary oversight to deliver on their respective mandates.

The oversight engagement also enabled the Committee to interact with senior NEC officials and gain a better understanding of the Corporation’s management and operational structures.

Among the senior officials who attended the engagement were Maj Gen (Rtd) Innocent Oula, the Deputy Managing Director of NEC, and Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi, the General Manager of Luwero Industries Limited, alongside other senior managers.

The visit comes as Parliament continues to undertake oversight activities aimed at assessing the performance of government institutions and understanding the challenges and opportunities affecting their operations.

For NEC, the engagement with the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee provided a platform to explain its mandate and activities directly to legislators responsible for oversight of institutions under the defence and internal affairs sectors.

The interaction also underscored the relationship between parliamentary oversight and the performance of government enterprises, particularly those expected to contribute both to national security objectives and broader economic development.

NEC is a commercial arm of the UPDF mandated to undertake strategic investments and commercial activities, with its operations extending into areas linked to industrial development and national economic transformation.

The Corporation’s leadership used the engagement to highlight the significance of defence industries and NEC’s role in supporting Uganda’s development agenda.

The Committee’s visit concluded with members appreciating the briefing and the opportunity to acquaint themselves with NEC’s operations and strategic objectives.