Uganda reveals new air college at Nakasongola

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba inspects graduates at Nakasongola Air Base on 3 July. (Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces)

The Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces - Air Force (UPDF-AF) has established a college at Nakasongola, it was revealed on 3 July, when the UPDF announced a graduation ceremony had been held at the facility.

It said more than 500 trainees graduated, including pilots, pilot instructors, and engineers, and that several infrastructure projects and housing units were also commissioned by Chief of the Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

It released photographs and a video showing the event took place at Nakasongola Air Base in the centre of the country, not Gulu, where similar events have taken place in the past. The video showed Gen Kainerugaba with a plaque marking the commissioning of “UPDF-AF simulator and buildings and equipment”.

The imagery of the graduation event showed Gen Kainerugaba congratulating pilots who were standing in front of L-39 jets and at least one Cessna 172 light aircraft. Their location could be identified as one outside a hangar that was previously used by at least one Thrush crop spraying aircraft that a photograph posted on social media in 2018 showed had been converted into a surveillance aircraft, as well as a Diamond DA42 surveillance aircraft.

In his speech, Gen Kainerugaba, who is the president's son, noted that the development of the UPDF-AF since his father took power in 1986 had been uneven. “We started as a guerrilla army … so it took us time to build the technical proficiency to be able to run an efficient air force,” he said. “We are struggling with it but I think we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.” He also warned against corruption and other misuses of resources.