UPDF New Headquarters at Mbuya Hits 87% Completion

The construction of Uganda’s new Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) headquarters at Mbuya Hill has reached 87% completion, keeping the ambitious landmark project firmly on track for commissioning in December.

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba on Monday conducted a site inspection of the twin-tower complex, taking the opportunity to highly commend the UPDF Engineering Brigade for maintaining the accelerated pace of construction.

Addressing the engineers and construction personnel at the site, Gen. Kainerugaba praised their steadfast commitment to delivering the state-of-the-art facility within the specified timeline. The CDF further reassured the workforce that their exceptional efforts would be formally recognized once the multi-billion project is completed and handed over.

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The MoDVA/UPDF headquarters project, which officially broke ground in August 2024, is being executed entirely by the UPDF Engineering Brigade. The government commissioned the project to resolve decades of fragmented office setups and provide Uganda’s armed forces with a consolidated command and administrative hub.

For years, the civilian defence ministry and the UPDF’s operational command have operated from offices spread across different aging facilities at Mbuya and beyond. The new twin-tower complex is strategically designed to bring civilian leadership and senior military commanders under one roof, thereby improving coordination, easing communication, and streamlining high-level decision-making.

During earlier phases of the project, Gen. Kainerugaba emphasized that housing the defence ministry in a modern, functional environment directly boosts operational efficiency and is essential for supporting contemporary military strategies.

The facility is heavily equipped with modern communication infrastructure, high-tech command installations, and digital operational systems designed to support dynamic military operations.

Site security has also been significantly upgraded. The complex is fortified with a two-kilometre perimeter fence, modernized quarter guards, and dedicated alternative access routes.

The construction timetable gained rapid momentum after the CDF directed the Engineering Brigade to accelerate the completion schedule while strictly maintaining high-quality engineering standards.

During Monday’s site inspection, Gen. Kainerugaba was guided through the facility by the Joint Staff Engineering lead, Col. James Lwegaba, alongside Project Engineer Col. Robert Chabo and Site Engineer Capt. Kikomeko Kigongo.

Also present to witness the progress were UPDF Chief of Joint Staff Lt. Gen. Jack Bakasumba, MoDVA Undersecretary Edith Butuuro, and other senior UPDF and MoDVA officials. With the structural work largely finished, attention is now shifting toward interior installations, digital system setups, and final commissioning works ahead of December.