U.S donates war plane to UPDF for AMISOM operations

By Chris Kiwawulo     
                     
The American government has donated a war plane to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Air force (UPDAF) to help the army in counter-terrorism operations in Somalia.

The Cessna 208B aircraft will be handed over to the UPDAF on Monday March 16, a statement from the US embassy in Kampala revealed on Wednesday (March 11).

The plane will be handed over by the US Mission in Uganda through the United States Department of Defense at the UPDF Air Wing base in Entebbe.

“The donation aims at increasing Uganda’s national air forces' capacity to conduct AMISOM counterterrorism operations. These aircraft will enhance the capacity of Uganda’s air forces to provide mobility, reconnaissance, and evacuation support,” observed the statement.

Uganda, which started deploying in Somalia in 2007, has the biggest number of forces in the war-torn country.  Burundi and Kenya also have troops in Somalia.