Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has praised the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade for the progress made on the construction of the new Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) and UPDF headquarters in Mbuya.

The major project has now reached 87 per cent completion and is expected to be commissioned in December 2026, according to the UPDF.

Gen Kainerugaba made the remarks on Monday, during an inspection of the construction site at the military headquarters in Mbuya, where he met engineers and other personnel working on the facility.

The CDF commended the construction team for its commitment to the project and assured the workforce that their efforts would be recognised once the facility is completed and handed over.

The new headquarters is being constructed entirely by the UPDF Engineering Brigade. Construction officially began in August 2024 after the project was launched to address longstanding challenges arising from the scattered and outdated office arrangements used by the defence ministry and military leadership.

The planned facility is intended to bring the civilian administration of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the operational leadership of the UPDF together in a single modern complex.

The project comprises a twin-tower complex equipped with modern communication infrastructure, command facilities and digital operational systems. These installations are expected to support faster coordination, information sharing and decision-making between the ministry and military leadership.

Security infrastructure around the headquarters has also been upgraded as part of the project. The improvements include a two-kilometre perimeter fence, modernised quarter guards and alternative access routes.

The construction schedule was accelerated after Gen Kainerugaba directed the engineering team to increase the pace of work while maintaining the required standards. With the project now at 87 per cent completion, the remaining works are expected to be completed ahead of the planned December commissioning.

The project is expected to replace some of the older and fragmented administrative facilities at Mbuya Hill, creating a consolidated base for Uganda’s defence administration and military command.

Gen Kainerugaba has previously emphasised the importance of modern infrastructure in improving military coordination and operational efficiency, particularly as defence institutions adopt more advanced communication and digital systems.

During Monday’s inspection, the CDF was guided through the project by Col James Lwegaba of Joint Staff Engineering, Project Engineer Col Robert Chabo and Site Engineer Capt Kikomeko Kigongo.

The inspection was also attended by UPDF Chief of Joint Staff Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Undersecretary Edith Butuuro and other senior UPDF and ministry officials.

The latest progress puts the new MoDVA-UPDF headquarters on course for its planned December 2026 commissioning, marking a major step towards consolidating Uganda’s defence ministry and military command infrastructure at Mbuya.