A Russian-made UPDF Mi-28 attack helicopter has dropped from the sky in western Uganda before turning into smouldering rubble.
Today’s incident comes less than a week after a UPDF reconnaissance plane used to hunt down ADF militants in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crashed in Kasese district
“UPDF Air Force regrets to report a Helicopter crash in the general areas of Karugutu- Ntoroko,” said the Air Force spokesperson, Maj Naboth Mugisha on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
Mugisha said the details of the aircraft crash “shall be availed later. But what is clear, it is purely accidental.”
The last development will pile pressure on the army leadership to explain the reasons why very expensive aircraft are tumbling from the sky at an alarming rate.
The Mi-28 Havoc combat helicopter was developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and its unit cost is around $18 million (Shs 60bn).
This is the second UPDF aircraft to crash in less than a week.
Last Thursday, a UPDF spy plane crashed in Kasese district, western Uganda.
The UPDF Diamond aircraft, which costs about Shs 5bn, was used for reconnaissance missions in the ongoing military operations against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The spy plane helped Ugandan armed forces to locate ADF bases in DRC and provide coordinates for long-range and aerial strikes.
“The crash undermines our reconnaissance capacity in Eastern DRC,” said a defence official who preferred anonymity to speak freely.
According to chimp reports, the UPDF in 2022 beefed up its Air force power by acquiring several new-generation MI-28 all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armor attack helicopters.
In late July 2023, the Ugandan Air Force demonstrated the firepower of its new Mi-28 attack helicopters during exercises at the Karama training school.
Experts say UPDF, equipped with around a dozen Mi-24/35 attack helicopters, several Mi-8/Mi-17s, AB 206 Jet Rangers, half a dozen Bell 205s, and a couple of Bell 212 helicopters, maintains a versatile and capable airborne force.
Mismanagement
However, the increased aircraft accidents undermine efforts to build a strong air force to counter regional security threats and also leads to wastage of billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money.
Despite witnessing increased cases of aircraft crashes in recent years, the UPDF has totally refused to give an explanation to the taxpayers.
The crashes have also raised fears of mismanagement by the military’s top brass.
In September 2022, at least 22 experienced combat operations officers were killed when a UPDF helicopter crashed in east Democratic Republic of Congo after delivering logistics to Ugandan soldiers fighting the Allied Democratic forces (ADF) insurgents in the region.
The Mi-17, which was primarily used for transportation, reportedly hit a tree shortly after taking off and crashed on troops on the ground collecting food it had just delivered.
In July this year, a UPDF helicopter which was on routine operations in Karamoja sub region crash landed.
Last year, two Mi-24 helicopters crashed in Fort Portal and Mityana.
In 2021, a UPDF jet ranger crashed at Lido beach in Entebbe, killing Capt Caroline Busingye.
The Entebbe crash happened six days after another UPDF helicopter came down soon after taking off in Balidogle, Somalia.
In 2020, Maj Naome Karungi who was UPDF’s most senior female pilot perished alongside flight trainee Benon Wakola when their jet ranger reportedly hit a hill in Butambala district.
In March 2023, the Uganda People’s Defence Air Forces (UPDAF) passed out a total of 12 pilots and 52 engineers who had completed an eight months training course in flying Mi-28 attack helicopters.
The commander of the UPDAF, Lt Gen Charles Okidi, who officiated at the pass-out on Wednesday at the Soroti Air Force Wing, commended the trainees for the good discipline and resilience that they exhibited since the training started.
He urged the trainees to ensure the safety of the newly acquired strategic assets.
Story credit: Chimp reports
