The meeting, held at Fort Portal, brought together senior representatives of ALIT, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), one of China's leading state-owned aerospace and defense enterprises.
The Chinese delegation included Dr. Chen Yan, Director of Technical Programs, Liu Yin, Senior Advisor, and Teng Yaze, Director of Defense Systems. ALIT specializes in advanced aerospace and defense technologies, providing comprehensive solutions in the field of air defense systems, precision weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as border and coastal surveillance.
The company also cooperates with partner countries through joint product development, joint production agreements, technology transfer and technical support. The discussions were a continuation of General Kainerugaba's official visit to China last year, during which he visited a number of leading Chinese defense technology companies to explore military cooperation and capacity development opportunities.
Welcoming the delegation, General Kainerugaba reaffirmed UPDF's long-standing relationship with the People's Republic of China and emphasized Uganda's commitment to expanding its strategic defense partnership with reliable international partners. The Chief of the Defense Forces also emphasized UPDF's preference for interacting directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), noting that working directly with government manufacturers such as ALIT increases transparency, quality of technical support and long-term cooperation, eliminating dependence on third-party intermediaries.
The meeting reflects UPDF's ongoing efforts to modernize its defense capabilities, especially in aerospace and surveillance technologies, as part of broader initiatives to strengthen national security, border protection, and operational readiness through international technological cooperation.
Uganda and China have maintained close defense relations for decades, with cooperation spanning military training, equipment procurement, infrastructure development, and technical exchange programs. The latest interaction demonstrates the continued efforts of both countries to deepen cooperation in the field of advanced defense technologies and capacity building.
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