Three Ugandan Military Officers Court-Martialed Over Chopper Crash in Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | KAMPALA: Three senior Uganda’s People Defence Forces (UPDF) officers have been charged with negligence and “wrongful acts in relation to aircraft” following a military helicopter crash in Somalia in September 2024.

The military helicopter deployed under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) crashed shortly after leaving Mogadishu to Baledogle airfield, 90km northwest of the Somali capital.

The four peacekeepers who were onboard the aircraft escaped with injuries.

The trio, Col. George Buga Andruga, 51, Maj. Benjamin Kashumbusha, 43, and Lt. Henry Gygenda, 38, appeared before the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala on January 15, 2025.

The officers were charged under Section 150(b) of the UPDF Act, Cap 330, which governs aviation operations where the prosecutors allege that the officers negligently deployed aircraft AU0-004.

If convicted, the charges carry a maximum penalty of death.

The accused officers denied any wrongdoing during the hearing, which was presided over by Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe.

UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye in a statement said the Ugandan military had conducted investigations to determine whether the crash was caused by technical failure, human error, or hostile fire.

“Whenever there is an air accident, there must be an investigation,” Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye stated in the statement.

Lead prosecutor Capt. Ambroz Guma, supported by Second Lieutenants Anthony Phillip Oluput and Regina Nanzala emphasized the need for more time to complete the investigation.

“The inquiries into this case are ongoing. We request that the case be adjourned and the accused remanded at the Makindye Military Police Quarter Guard,” Oluput told the court.

The defence team, led by Elizabeth Nyadsingwa and Capt. Simon Nsubuga Busagwa announced their intention to apply for bail at the next hearing.

“We have instructions to apply for bail, but let it be on record that we will present our request at the next adjournment,” Busagwa said.

Uganda is one of the troop-contributing countries to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia whose mandate ended late last year and was replaced by the   African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) with effect from 1 January 2025.