Friday January 17, 2025
Col. George Buga Andruga (left), Lt. Henry Gygenda (center), and Maj. Benjamin Kashumbusha (right) appear before the General Court Martial at Makindye in Kampala. The senior UPDF officers are charged with wrongful acts related to aircraft operations following a helicopter crash in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). (Photo credit: Douglas Mubiru, New Vision)
Mogadishu (HOL) — Three senior officers from Uganda's People's Defence Forces (UPDF) have been charged with negligence following a military helicopter crash in Somalia in September 2024. The incident, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu, involved a chopper deployed under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and left four peacekeepers injured but alive.
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 trio faces charges under Section 150(b) of the UPDF Act, Cap 330, which governs aviation operations. Prosecutors allege that the officers negligently deployed aircraft AU0-004, resulting in its crash en route to Balidogle Military Airfield, a critical military base 90 kilometres (55 miles) southwest of Mogadishu.
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.
The September 19 crash left four personnel aboard the helicopter injured but alive, including three Ugandan soldiers serving with ATMIS. The helicopter was flying from Mogadishu to Balidogle Airfield, a hub for Somali commandos from the elite Danab unit and U.S. forces.
The Ugandan military initiated an inquiry shortly after the incident to determine whether the crash was caused by technical failure, human error, or hostile fire. Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesperson, confirmed that investigations were underway, stating, "Whenever there is an air accident, there must be an investigation."
ATMIS or the Somali National Army (SNA) issued no official statements, leaving questions about the incident's underlying cause and the communication gaps within the mission.
During the court proceedings, 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 played a key role in ATMIS, contributing a significant number of troops to counter Al-Shabaab militants. Balidogle Airfield, the helicopter's destination, is a strategically important base for training and logistics in anti-militant operations.