Ugandan military officers charged for helicopter crash in Somalia

A Uganda People's Defence Air Force (UPAF) crewman walks next to a Somalia-bound Ugandan Mi-24 attack helicopter that crashed at Mount Kenya, August 13, 2012. COURTESY PHOTO

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A court-martial has charged three Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF) with negligence following a helicopter crash in September 2024, shortly after taking over from Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The three were in charge of the chopper ferrying the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops, which has since transitioned to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Four soldiers were critically injured.

Col. George Buga Andruga, 51, Maj. Benjamin Kashumbusha, 43, and Lt. Henry Gygenda, 38, appeared before the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala last week for the commencement of their trial.

According to military regulations, the trio shall face charges under Section 150(b) of the UPDF Act, Cap 330, which governs aviation operations. Prosecutors allege that the officers negligently deployed aircraft AU0-004, resulting in its crash en route to Balidogle Military Airfield.

Should the prosecution prove the case, the three could face the death penalty. However, the accused denied the charges after the hearings that were presided over by Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe.

Balidogle Military Base is controlled by the US Africa Command and is the home to the elite Danab Special Forces of the Somali National Army. The injured officers including 3 UPDF soldiers were headed to the facility before the accident.

The Ugandan military initiated an inquiry shortly after the incident to determine whether the crash was caused by technical failure, human error, or hostile fire. Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesperson, confirmed that investigations were underway, stating, "Whenever there is an air accident, there must be an investigation."

"The inquiries into this case are ongoing. We request that the case be adjourned and the accused remanded at the Makindye Military Police Quarter Guard," Philip Oluput, one of the prosecutors, told the court.

The defense team, led by Elizabeth Nyadsingwa and Capt. Simon Nsubuga Busagwa announced their intention to apply for bail at the next hearing. "We have instructions to apply for bail, but let it be on record that we will present our request at the next adjournment," Busagwa said.

Ugandan troops are key components in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and are responsible for stability in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. The country has lost many soldiers in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE