UPDF Chopper Crashes In Somalia, Soldiers Rescued

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news February 8, 2021

The UPDF has confirmed the crash of one of their helicopters in Somalia while on a mission under the AMISOM.

“A helicopter on a mission to support AMISOM troops crashed soon after take-off in Balidogle in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia on Friday. All four soldiers aboard the helicopter were rescued. And are in a stable medical condition.” AMISOM said in a statement on Sunday.

An official from AMISOM says they have commenced investigations into the crash of the UPDF chopper. He also added that preliminary findings indicate that the chopper crashed due to mechanical failure.

The chopper that crashed on Friday is one of the few belonging to the UPDF aviation unit that they deployed to Somalia in July for the first time in eight years.

The UPDF encountered a disastrous failure in their first attempt in 2012 to send choppers to Somalia. Three out of four choppers crashed in Kenya on their way to Mogadishu. However, up to now, Uganda is yet to receive compensation from the UN as negotiations over the same issue.

A comment from the CDF.

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi said during the sending off of the aviation unit that the chopper was meant to increase their firepower against the Al Shabaab militants.

“The presence of airpower will offer us extensive asymmetric advantages over the unconventional and `dispersed enemy in Somalia. With air assets, we will be able to respond quickly with precision fires. Or inject a quick reaction force once the enemy assembles,” he said.

According to the CDF, the presence of air assets will also not only guarantee the dominance of firepower for the UPDF over the enemy, but it will also provide a marked advantage on technical intelligence, among other benefits.

Consequently, the UPDF started carrying out air raids against the Al Shabaab militants, killing over 180 militants last month.

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