Uganda Army Air Force

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 "Uganda Army Air Force" (UAAF).^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6][7]

Much of the UAAF was destroyed in Operation Entebbe in 1976, although it was subsequently rebuilt with mainly Libyan and Soviet support.^[8][9][7]

By late 1978, the UAAF was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Gore^[10] and consisted of several dozen MiG-21MFs, MiG-21UMs, MiG-17s,^[11] and MiG-15UTIs. Some of the available aircraft were not combat-worthy, however, and were abandoned during the Uganda–Tanzania War without seeing action.^[12] The lack of spare parts especially affected the Mig-15s and MiG-17s.^[13] The UAAF was split into three fighter squadrons.^[13] 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;^[14][15] its aircraft were lost or taken by the Tanzanians.^[16][17]

Air forces from 1979

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.^[18]

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.^[19]

Modern air force

The modern air force, in its current form, was established in 2005 by the Defence forces Act, section (3) sub- section (2) with mission of the country's comprehensive Defence policy mainly in the threat analysis despite being a landlocked country.^[20] It was formed as a statutory institute and service in the arms of the Uganda Defence Forces.^[21]

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.^[22]

In June 2022, Uganda took delivery of at least three Mi-28N Havoc attack helicopters from Russia.^[23]

Air base upgrading

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 installations of the aircraft hangars, access routes, vehicles water treatment systems, ground markings, parking areas for both aircraft and control towers, according to the President.^[27][28]

As of 28 March to 31 March 2020, six training combat aircraft were upgraded by the Ukraine's state owned defence conglomerate UkrOboronProm (UOP) sending a team of 14 pilots, designer and engineer from the Odesa Aviation Plant for the operations including some available repairs. The operations was carried out in Gulu Air Base after an agreement since 2018, some of the jet amongst are Ugandan Aero L-39 Albatros; a training and light attack jet, Ugandan L-39ZA which 8 of them were overhauled, and modernized and the AI-25TL turbofan was all overhauled and upgraded into AI-25TLSh with a standard of 10% trust, improved control and modernized radio including navigation.^[29]

During the passing out ceremony of the 2020 graduation set in Gulu airport, the President of Uganda had promised to start the construction of 30,000 housing units countrywide to solve the UPDF housing shortage in the country.^[27]

Uganda Army Air Force

• Wilson Toko (died 1973)^[33]
• Smuts Guweddeko (1973–1974)^[33]
• Zeddy Maruru (1974–1975)^[33]
• Idi Amin (1975 – ?)^[33]
• Godwin Sule (acting, c. 1976)^[34]
• Christopher Gore (1978^[35] – 1979)^[10]
• Andrew Mukooza (1979)^[36]

UNLA air wing

• Peter Oringi (1982 – ?)^[18]

UPDF Air Force

• Samuel Turyagyenda (2013^[37] – 2017^[2])
• Charles Lutaaya (2017^[2] – present)

Current inventory