The US Mission Uganda, through the United States Department of Defence, has donated two Cessna 208B aircrafts to the UPDF for AMISOM Counterterrorism operations.
The donated aircrafts are expected to increase Uganda’s national airforce capacity by improving mobility, reconnaissance and evacuation support.
Uganda was the first East African country to deploy troops to Somalia in 2007 and its troops make up the bulk of the forces there, helping Somalia’s UN-backed government.
Uganda currently has over 5000 soldiers and officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Uganda Airforce wing base in Entebbe Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Katumba Wamala lauded the United States for supporting Uganda’s peace operations in Somalia.
