A month after Somali insurgents attacked a UPDF base in Somalia, killing 19 soldiers, the commander Air Forces, Maj Gen Samuel Turyagyenda says Uganda is ready to deploy two helicopters for transport and four for combat to augment UPDF infantry. In this interview done by UPDF’s Magazine (Tarehe Sita) and sent to Eagle Online, Maj Gen Turyagyenda talks about the history of UPDAF, the Israel attack on Entebbe airbase in 1976 that left many air assets destroyed, and the crashing of the four helicopters in Kenya,  en-route to Somalia.  

Briefly tell us how UPDAF evolved to what it is today

Air Force was established in Jan 1964 with the enactment of 1964 Armed Forces Act. The first recruitment was done in 1964 by the Israeli’s. The emphasis was on recruits with aeronautical, mechanical, electrical engineers.

By 1975, Air Force had built capacity in terms of manpower, Equipment and infrastructure. It had operational Air bases in Gulu, Nakasongola and Entebbe and was capable of executing operational missions.

However, in 1976 most of the assets were destroyed on the ground by the Israeli raid during operation “Thunder Bolt”. The political turmoil during Amin’s reign saw many qualified pilots & Engineers either killed or fled the country.

The 1979 war saw the remaining aircraft either vandalized or taken away which made the Air Force to totally collapse.

But since 1986 UPDAF has been high on government policy agenda. We acquired some Bell and Agusta Utility helicopters from America and Italy respectively.  They were not combat. But with time, it became necessary to search for multirole helicopters that could do both Utility and combat.  The MI – 17 was the preferred choice. The UPDF fraternity referred to this ‘Skyhorse’ as “SURAMBAYA”

The white paper on Defence transformation in 2004 and later UPDF Act 2005 Created Air Force as a Service thus making the UPDF a bi-service. Since then, UPDAF (Air Force) has moved to acquire new and modern platforms.

Air Force has gone on to train its personnel (Pilots, Engineers and Technicians) from both inland and abroad in different capacities.

What are the major challenges the air force faces on this road to have a strong air force?

 Generally, the major bottlenecks in professionalisation are many but the following are some of them are; limited budget to undertake the required training both new airmen as well as progressive experience building for pilots, Engineers, technicians and other support departmental personnel.

We also need trainers and operational aircraft. We also need enough fuel for training and operations. We need ground handling equipment and other logistical equipment.

It would also be better to have a well-established Aviation Academy to conduct local training which is cheaper compared to sending people abroad.

There is also limited Land to conduct training. Most of the land has been encroached.

What has been the role of UPDAF in the fight against violent extremist in the region?

 First and foremost violent extremism is a global threat and in our region, the extremists have manifested themselves through Alshabab, ADF, and LRA and others. Whenever Air Force is called on, we have done Aerial Reconnaissance in Eastern, DRC, South Sudan and Northern Uganda to provide timely intelligence information to commanders.

We also air lift or deploy troops and resupply the required logistics. In Somalia, we do Aviation security, Meteorological, Fire and Rescue Services to AMISOM at Mogadishu airport.

These and many more, Air Force in support and collaboration with other Arms of UPDF, has played a significant role in combating extremism in the region.

What are the combat challenges you faced fighting extremism?

 Fighting extremist is or asymmetrical warfare where there is no frontline. The enemy will mix with the population and identification is a problem.

Another challenge is poor coordination affecting timely response. There is need to acquire modern equipment intelligence, surveillance, and target (ISTAR) assets to provide accurate information. Difference in doctrine of different countries is another challenge. We do not have the same doctrine and therefore have different training and operational methods. As I mentioned earlier, lack of helicopters, trained personnel and other logistical requirements pose a big challenge when fighting extremism in our region.

We are aware that UPDAF has been making some preparations for the deployment of Air craft in Somalia. How prepared in Air Force for the mission?

As you are aware, following the tragic accident of 2012 when we lost helicopters in Kenya en-route to Mogadishu, we went back to the drawing board; we have been preparing and now we are in advanced stages to deploy.

The helicopters to deploy are ready, personnel have been trained both in Nairobi and in Uganda, basically all preparations have been made and very soon we shall deploy.

Who is going to fund this operation? And how many aircraft are ready for the mission?

This is an African Union Mission in collaboration with the United Nations. The UN Security Council Sanctioned the deployment of air assets to Somalia as both force multipliers and force enablers. African Union will fund the mission.

As for the number of aircraft, we are looking at initially deploying Six–two for transport, and four for combat. However, in case of necessity we hope to increase the numbers later.

Is the deployment going to be done by UPDAF only?

Absolutely it will be done by Ugandans. Uganda is a troop contributing country and will undertake the mission.

Has UPDAF got involved in such a multinational operation anywhere in the world?

No! This is the first of its kind.

What do you see as the major Air Force achievements since 1986?

There are a lot of achievements which include   but are not limited to increase in asset base. There was no Air Force to talk about in 1986. But now it is a service Force with assets, and personnel. We have also expanded in area of operation. We now have four operational bases of Gulu, Soroti, Nakasongola and Entebbe. In addition we have an Academy in Nakasongola and an Air Force Garrison.

We have increased the level of training of our personnel both in professional/technical and military aspects.

Air Force has been instrumental in the defeat of all insurgents in Uganda, LRA, Lakwena, and ADF. In additional, Air Force was instrumental in battles against cattle rustling and disarmament operations in Karamoja.

Air Force has also been instrumental in operations other than war especially natural disasters. Examples floods in Teso, Kasese and Landslides in Bududa.

What change will the deployment of air assets cause in the operations against al shabaa?

The deployment of aircraft to Somalia will be a game changer. It will entirely change the course of operations. Troops will be airlifted and to and from the frontline quickly. They may also be deployed behind enemy lines positioned.    Logistical supplies will be easy and above, all the fire power delivered from the combat helicopter will substantially help to conclude the war more quickly.

Where do we see Air Force in the next twenty years?

In the next twenty years, Air Force will be modern with enough trained and qualified Pilots, engineers, Technicians and other support personnel. Air Force will have adequate modern platforms that can appropriately respond to internal, regional and continental threats. We will expand not only in size and numbers of the equipment and personnel, but also in coverage.

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About 108 Ugandan soldiers have joined their African colleagues in South Africa for readiness of African Standby Force that is supposed to be fully-fledged by December this year.

A statement issued by the Ugandan army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda says the exercise is to evaluate the state of readiness of the ASF and its Rapid Deployment Capability.

Col Michael Kabango, the commanding the Ugandan Contingent said: “By the close of the exercise, our troops will be better skilled on crises response.

Participating countries include; Uganda, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Algeria, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda.

African Standby Force have five armies from the five African regional economic blocs that are supposed to respond to crises and conflicts in their respective regions.

They are; Eastern African Standby Force (EASF), North African Regional Capacity, Economic Community of West African States Standby Force of West African, Economic Community of Central African States Standby Force and SADC Standby Brigade.

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Ethiopia needs US$596 million to contain the existing threat caused by rampaging El Nino rains, which are also expected to affect nine other African countries including Uganda.

This development in Ethiopia comes in the wake of the government and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Coordinator drafting a letter outlining the current situation in the Horn of Africa country.,

‘Given the deteriorating humanitarian situation outlined in the letter, the financial requirements to address urgent humanitarian needs to the end of 2015 have increased by US$164m, taking the total requirements to US$596m’, a release by UNOCHA states in part.

it further indicates that US$258m has been received to-date in donor contributions, leaving the appeal funded to 43%.

‘As much of the funds provided earlier in the year were already spent, key sectors such as Food, Targeted Supplemental Food, and livelihoods/agriculture are critically short of funds’ the release adds.

Three weeks ago the Ethiopia Humanitarian Country Team also released a forward-looking document called ‘Ethiopia Slow onset natural disaster: El Niño Driven Emergency’, as a complement to the Government-led Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD). It concludes with needs projections for early next year based on analysis of ‘analogue’ El-Nino impacted years, along with some indicative financial requirements of US$237m – required immediately – in particular to front-load critical food and nutrition supply pipelines for the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, in Uganda the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has desilted several drainage channels, mostly in the slum areas like Bwaise and Kinawataka, in a bid to contain the effects of El Nino on slum dwellers.

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American First Daughter Malia Obama has come of college age, visiting several Ivy League universities like Columbia and Stanford, in the East and West Coast, respectively.

Over the past months the 17-year old Malia has visited other universities that include Brown’s University, New York University, the University of California at Berkeley and, Barnard College.

Recently Malia visited Brown University but according to analysts, President Barack Obama’s eldest daughter is likely to settle for her father’s Alma Mater, Columbia University, while others speculate she will choose her father’s ‘favourite university’, Stanford. Well, if Malia goes to Stanford, she will follow in the footsteps of Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of 42^nd US President Bill Clinton and wife Hilary Rodham Clinton. Malia will also become the 10^th ‘First Child’ in the last 50 years, to get a college/university education while at the White House.

Other US President’s children and their schools in the last 50 years

Lynda Bird Johnson Robb – The oldest daughter of the US 36^th President Lyndon B Johnson, she went to National Cathedral School in Washington D.C and University of Austin at Texas (1966).

Luci Baines Johnson – A younger sister to Lynda, Luci attended Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies (1996). She didn’t graduate.

Tricia Nixon Cox – The oldest daughter of President Richard Nixon, Tricia attended Boston College and earned a degree in English (1968). Julie Nixon – the youngest daughter of Nixon attended Smith College and earned a master’s degree in education from The Catholic University of America in 1972.

Caroline Kennedy — Radcliff Class of 1980

The oldest child of President John F. Kennedy, Caroline went to Radcliffe College at Harvard University, and earned a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1988.

John F. Kennedy Jr. — Brown University Class of 1983

The younger Kennedy attended Brown University where he majored in history. He graduated with a law degree from New York University (NYU) School of Law in 1989, though he failed the bar exam twice, before passing on his third try.

Amy Carter — Brown University 1988 (didn’t graduate)

Amy Carter, the youngest daughter of President Jimmy Carter, attended Brown University but was dismissed in 1987 for falling behind in her classes.

She graduated with a bachelor of fine arts from the Memphis College of Art in 1992 and earned a master’s degree in art history from Tulane University.

Chelsea Clinton — Stanford University Class of 2001

Chelsea Clinton could be the first child with the highest educational credentials. The only daughter of President Bill Clinton, she graduated with highest honors from Stanford with a history degree.

She then attended University College of the University of Oxford, where she graduated with a master of philosophy in 2003.

Clinton earned a graduate degree from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health in 2010 and earned doctorate from Oxford in 2014.

Barbara Pierce Bush — Yale University Class of 2004

The older fraternal twin daughter of President George W. Bush, Barbara attended Yale University and graduated with a degree in humanities.

Jenna Bush Hager — University of Texas at Austin Class of 2004

Jenna, the younger fraternal twin, attended University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with an English degree.

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