By Sulaiman Kauki
ENTEBBE. Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Friday commissioned a new LET L-410 transport aircraft into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Air Force, saying the acquisition would strengthen the military’s airlift, medical evacuation and operational capabilities.
The twin-engine aircraft, supplied through Czech defence company OMNIPOL, is designed for multiple roles, including transporting up to 19 passengers, carrying cargo, conducting medical evacuations with six stretcher patients and three seated patients, serving as an eight-seat VIP aircraft, and supporting airborne troop deployments.
Commissioning the aircraft, Kainerugaba called on the Air Force to safeguard the investment through proper maintenance.
“I urge the Air Force team to maintain these assets to the highest standards,” he said, adding that operational readiness depended not only on acquiring equipment but also on preserving it.
Muhoozi with OMNIPOL delegation led by Chairman Ondrej Panenka
Kainerugaba also thanked OMNIPOL for delivering the aircraft two months ahead of schedule.
“I appreciate OMNIPOL for facilitating this acquisition and delivering it two months ahead of schedule,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by Commander Air Force Lieutenant General Charles Okidi, the Air Force Chief of Staff and an OMNIPOL delegation led by Chairman Ondrej Panenka.
The acquisition comes as Uganda continues to modernise its armed forces amid growing regional security demands. In recent years, the UPDF has expanded its air fleet to improve troop mobility, logistics, surveillance and casualty evacuation for operations both at home and abroad.
The Air Force plays a critical role in supporting Uganda’s military campaign against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and in sustaining Ugandan troops deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia.
Beyond combat operations, the Air Force is frequently deployed for humanitarian missions, including airlifting critically ill patients, delivering emergency relief supplies during floods and landslides, and transporting personnel and equipment to remote parts of the country.
Military officials said the addition of the LET L-410 would improve the UPDF’s flexibility in responding to both security and humanitarian emergencies while strengthening Uganda’s overall air mobility capabilities.