KAMPALA — Three senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers have been charged and remanded by the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye over the loss of a UPDF aircraft in Somalia.
According to court proceedings on Tuesday, the officers — Col. George Buga Andruca, Maj. Benjamin Kashumbusha, and Lt. Henry Gygenda — appeared before a panel of military judges presided over by Col. Frederick Kangwamu.
They are accused of wrongful acts in relation to a UPDF aircraft that was deployed in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and subsequently lost in a crash in September 2024.
The trio has been charged under Section 150(b) of the UPDF Act Cap. 330, which covers negligence or actions contrary to military regulations that result in the loss of aircraft or defence force material. The officers denied the charge during the hearing.
Prosecutors, led by Capt. Alex Mukhana and Second Lieutenant Anthony Phillip Olupot, informed the court that investigations are ongoing and requested an adjournment for further mention. In response, the court remanded the accused to the Makindye Military Police Quarter Guard until April 4, 2026, when their case will be revisited.
The aircraft involved, designated AUO-004, was part of UPDF’s aviation contingent in Somalia and played a role in transporting troops and supplies in mission areas. Its loss has prompted scrutiny from military authorities given the operational importance of such assets.
The case underscores ongoing efforts by the UPDF to enforce accountability within its ranks for operational conduct and adherence to military procedures.
