| Unit Name: | Uganda People's Defence Force Air Forces |
| Start Date: | 1964 (Uganda's first air force) 2005 (current air force) |
| Country: |  Uganda |
| Type: | Air force |
| Role: | Aerial warfare |
| Size: | 1200 personnel [1] |
| Command Structure: | Uganda People's Defence Force |
| Garrison: | Entebbe |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Battles: | |
| Commander1: | President Yoweri Museveni |
| Commander1 Label: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Commander2: | Colonel Emmanuel Kwihangana |
| Commander2 Label: | Chief of Air Staff |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Fin flash |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Flag |
| Aircraft Attack: | Su-30 |
| Aircraft Fighter: | MiG-21, Su-30 |
| Aircraft Helicopter: | Bell 206, Bell UH-1, Mil Mi-17, Bell Model 214ST |
| Aircraft Helicopter Attack: | Mil Mi-24 |
| Aircraft Trainer: | L-39 Albatross, SF.260 |
| Aircraft Transport: | Cessna 208 Caravan |
Uganda People's Defence Force Air Force, more commonly known as the Ugandan Air Force, is a branch of the Uganda People's Defence Force. Its headquarters are located at Entebbe, Uganda. The current air force commander is Charles Lutaaya, while Emmanuel Kwihangana serves as chief of air staff.[2]
The Ugandan Air Force traces its history to 1964, when the country's first air force was established with Israeli aid. This military branch was officially called the "Uganda Army Air Force" (UAAF).[3] Its first aircraft was of Israeli origin, and its initial pilots trained in Israel. As Uganda's government forged closer links with the Eastern Bloc, the UAAF began to acquire more aircraft as well as support in training from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Libya. Israeli aid initially continued as well. After Idi Amin seized power during the 1971 Ugandan coup d'état, the Uganda Army, including its air force, were further expanded. At the same time, corruption and infighting increased, while foreign aid began to decline, reducing the UAAF's ability to operate.
Much of the UAAF was destroyed in Operation Entebbe in 1976, although it was subsequently rebuilt with mainly Libyan and Soviet support.[4]
By late 1978, the UAAF was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Gore and consisted of several dozen MiG-21MFs, MiG-21UMs, MiG-17s, and MiG-15UTIs. Some of the available aircraft were not combat-worthy, however, and were abandoned during the Uganda–Tanzania War without seeing action. The lack of spare parts especially affected the Mig-15s and MiG-17s. The UAAF was split into three fighter squadrons. However, the force was effectively wiped out during the 1978/1979 air campaign of the Uganda–Tanzania War. Its pilots and technicians scattered, many fleeing abroad;[5] its aircraft were lost or taken by the Tanzanians.
After Idi Amin’s overthrow and the UAAF's destruction during the Uganda-Tanzania War, subsequent Ugandan governments made repeated attempts to organize a new air force. The new national military, generally known as Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), acquired a few helicopters and organized a small air wing. A further restoration remained impossible due to lack of funding as well as renewed internal conflict, as the country plunged into a civil war known as Ugandan Bush War.
The Bush War was won by the rebel National Resistance Movement (NRM) in 1986, resulting in the organization of yet another national military. The NRM government began rebuilding the air force, but the "Ugandan People's Defence Air Force" remained extremely small until the 1990s, counting just 100 personnel by 1994.
The modern air force, in its current form, was established in 2005 by the Defence forces Act.[6] It was formed as a statutory institute and service under the umbrella of the Uganda Defence Forces.[7]
In 2011, Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, the central bank governor, caused large volatility in the Ugandan shilling when he told the Financial Times that President Museveni had ignored technical advice against using Uganda's small foreign exchange reserves to buy new Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft.[8]
In June 2022, Uganda took delivery of at least three Mi-28N Havoc attack helicopters from Russia.[9]
The UPDF Air Force's mission is to defend the country's air space, and provide support to the army's operations. Other missions include:[3] [10]
The Ugandan Air Force training facility is located at Gulu Air Base, where pilot's undergo a five year training program[11] The Gulu airport is controlled by the Air wing of the Uganda People Defence Forces.[12] The Gulu airport is in the Gulu District.
As of 14 November 2019, the President of Uganda has set up a committee to upgrade the Gulu Airport to international standards; the construction will determine the features and installation of aircraft hangars, access routes, vehicles, water treatment systems, ground markings, parking areas, and control towers, according to the President.[13] [14]
In late March of 2020, an upgrade of six training aircraft was completed at the Gulu Air Base by Ukrainian owned defense conglomerate UkrOboronProm (UOP), who had provided approximately 14 personnel including pilots, engineers, and designers. These upgrades began in 2018. The upgraded aircraft were eight Aero L-39 Albatros; a training and light attack jet. Upgrades included overhauling their AI-25TL Turbofan engines, bringing them to AI-25TLSh Standards, modernizing radio and navigation equipment, and installing solid-state BUR-4-1 flight data recorders. [15]
During the "pass out" ceremony of the 2020 pilot graduation held at Gulu Airport, the President of Uganda had pledged to begin the construction of 30,000 housing units countrywide to solve the UPDF housing shortage in the country.[13]
In March 2022, the UPDF Air Force signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Government of India, for the latter to maintain and service Uganda's Russian-made multirole Su-30MK2 fighter jets. The work will be carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), based in Bengaluru, India. HAL is fully owned by the Indian government. The agreement was signed at the Embassy of India to Uganda, in Uganda's capital city, Kampala.[16]
The UPDAF commended the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act signed by President Barack Obama, leading to cooperation between the Ugandan People Defence Force, Ugandan People's Defence Air Force, and Air Forces Africa for establishing good partnerships and military engagement.[17] In 2018 the UPDAF promoted 107 soldiers to commissioned and higher ranks.[18]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||||||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 | Soviet Union | fighter | 5[24] | |||
| Sukhoi Su-30 | Russia | multirole | 6 | 6 aircraft ordered. One destroyed in 2020.[25] | ||
| Transport | ||||||
| Cessna 208 Caravan | United States | utility | 2 | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | United States | utility | UH-1H | 5 | ||
| Bell 206 JetRanger | United States | utility | 5 | |||
| Mil Mi-17 | Russia | utility | 10 | |||
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | attack | 6 | |||
| Mil Mi-28 | Russia | attack | 2[26] | 1 unit crashed in 2024.[27] | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Czechoslovakia | jet trainer | L-39ZA | 12 | ||
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 | Italy | trainer | 4 | |||