By Andrew Irumba
Gulu: Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Air Force wing passed out eighteen combat aircraft pilot cadets and 172 aircraft engineers at the Military Airbase in Bardege Division in Gulu district on Wednesday November 6, 2019.
The aircraft defence pilots graduated in advanced combat and operational flight on the ground attack using fighter jets after completing an eight-year course that began in 2011.
The pass out ceremony was punctuated by several hours of combat flight demonstrations on Cessna 172 and L39 fighter jets.
It attracted a lot of cheers from the senior commanders and guests among who were spouses of the pilots.
Lt. Gen. Charles Lutaaya, the Commander Air Defense joyfully said, that “The accomplishments of the demonstrations done were due to the selfless efforts, integrity and excellence of the pilots who were guided by expert trainers from Bulgarian military and civil aviation firm, Jotov & Son.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander in Chief of Defense Forces emphasized the need to enforce the policy of studying science subjects in schools like physics, which has yielded results for the new pilots who can now reap from what they sowed.
Museveni urged the cadet pilots to observe core values of air forces; remaining healthy by avoiding reckless living, serving above self and love for the country.
Gen. David Muhoozi, the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) asserted that the advanced combat flight training is part the country’s long term vision of professionalizing the army and making Air Force superior in the region.
In July 2016, a total of 20 fighter Jet pilots and 50 aircraft technicians were also passed out from the same base as the first cohort of Ugandan pilots who received training in the military aviation sector after a five-year course.
