A Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) general has reportedly been placed under house arrest and another detained alongside three Colonels at Makindye Military Barracks in what officials say is an ongoing graft-related crackdown at the Entebbe-based Air Force.
A number of senior civilian employees and junior army officers are either also in custody, or being interrogated, in relation to questionable procurements. Monitor is withholding names of the implicated officers for legal reasons.
When Monitor contacted the acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi, he said he wasn’t aware about the arrests of any officers and civilians in relation to the military aviation cases, but he asked Daily Monitor for time to verify with his superiors.
However, Col Magezi didn’t call us back. When we called him back later, our calls went unanswered by press time.
The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, reportedly ordered the inquiries after receiving intelligence suggesting corruption in procurement of aircraft spare parts and fuel.
It is alleged that billions of shillings have been taken out in the name of combat, cargo, training, and military transport planes replacement parts that were either not received or delivered in quantities less than ordered.
The CDF was informed that in some cases, prices of spare parts required for scheduled and emergency repairs were inflated, meaning more of tax payers’ money spent for less value.
Gen Muhoozi tasked Special Forces Command’s Director of Intelligence, Col Ddamulira Sseruyange, to lead into inquiries that have led to the arrests.
Investigators will try to establish how an override of the elaborate controls in military procurement happened or whether individuals responsible for its integrity simply colluded to compromise it. According to knowledgeable sources, UPDF Air Force buys and stocks spare parts for pre-scheduled/periodic maintenance works, where the aircraft has flown a specific number of hours.
However, for non-scheduled repairs, the demand for purchase originates from either the end user – a pilot or maintenance engineer – and is logged in to the Squadron Commander as snags.
The Squadron Commander then notifies the Director of Engineering, who, upon confirmation of the need, avails the spare parts if in stock, or initiates a requisition to the Chief of Staff for the procurement. The paperwork goes to the permanent secretary through the under-secretary, after which the suppliers are sourced.
Upon purchase, the spare parts are delivered and received by a Receiving Committee, which is supposed to confirm quality, quantity, and costs before they are taken to the stores.
The Col Sseruyange team will try to ascertain what went wrong with these controls. It will also inquire into whether there was sufficient due diligence on the implicated officers before their promotion to senior ranks as recently as last year.
The investigators will look into whether the falling from the skies of several army planes, particularly over the past three years, is linked to poor maintenance due to a spare parts shortage. The implicated officers cut across top command, administrative, procurement, and finance tiers.
Some UPDF aircraft that have crashed
September 24, 2022: An MI 24 crash-landed on a house of a resident in Fort Portal, Bundibugyo District.
July 26, 2022: An M1 24 crash-landed in Mityana District. Four occupants survived. The crew team repaired the technical glitch and the helicopter continued with its journey.
February 11, 2021: A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) jet ranger crashed in Entebbe, near Lido beach, moments after take-off. One trainee died in the accident.
February 5, 2021: Four soldiers under African Union mission were rescued when a helicopter on a mission to support its troops in Lower Shabelle region crashed soon after take-off in Balidogle in Somalia.
January 28, 2020: A UPDF jet ranger AF302 crashed in Butambala District, killing Maj Naomi Kalungi and Cadet Pilot Benon Wakola.
August 12, 2012: Four military helicopters-one Mi-17 and three Mi-24s-were flying to Mogadishu, Somalia, through Kenya when three Mi-24 helicopters crashed in Mt Elgon. This article is extracted from Daily Monitor website
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