UN not to compensate UPDF for crashed choppers

crashed-updf-helicopter

One of the crashed helicopters

The United Nations (UN) has officially communicated to Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) declining to compensate three helicopters that crashed in Kenya in 2012. The helicopters crashed on the slopes of Mount Kenya on August 12th, 2012 on their way to beef up the mission to fight against Al Shabaab militias, under the UN-sponsored African Union Mission (AMISON) in Somalia.

The three Mi24 gunship helicopters that crashed reportedly cost Shillings 30 billion, and Uganda has since been pushing UN to replace them. Reports indicate that they were part of force enablers that were to be used by AMISON in ‘Operation Eagle’ an operation that was to weaken the Al-Shabaab in areas of Baidoa. They were also to help in air surveillance in the ‘Operation Indian Ocean’.

General Katumba Wamala, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) said that UN had refused to compensate them for the helicopters indicating that they had not entered the mission area in Somalia. He said that also other earth moving equipment worth 10million Dollars that was lost in the Somalia is not to be compensated.

On August 12th, 2012 three Ugandan army Mi24 helicopter gunships operating under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) crashed over Mount Kenya. The helicopters were heading to Kismayo to combat the Al-Shabaab militants. Seven crew members died and 21 were injured.

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