Oldest police helicopter flies again after 15 years
- Written by URN
The oldest police helicopter is set to fly again after being grounded for more than 15 years.
The police air wing has completed refurbishing the seven seater Bell 206B American helicopter, which was grounded in 2002. The helicopter was purchased in 1986 shortly after President Museveni took power.
The former inspector general of police, Kale Kayihura tried to sell off the helicopter in 2013 as scrap but was advised to refurbish it.
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The aircraft was refurbished by Yamasec Ltd. Deputy IGP Sabiiti Muzeyi witnessed the handover the refurbished chopper at the police air wing base in Kajjansi today.
Captain Baraka Orland, the chief executive officer Yamasec, says it took them two years to refurbish the helicopter, adding that the repairs were done at Kajjansi airstrip using local engineers.
"Now this aircraft doesn't have to be sent to a museum but can add on the resources of the police force," Captain Baraka said.
Sabiiti, who part of the team that flew in the helicopter as it was being tested, said "there are many things that can be added on the helicopter like cameras and search lights to make it serve the policing role appropriately".
Initially, the helicopter engine failed to start due to a malfunction but was later fixed and off into the skies it went.
Although police didn't disclose what it cost them to repair the helicopter, a reliable source put the figure at Shs 10 billion. The repair of the helicopter brings to four the number of helicopters belonging to the police force. Two helicopters were purchased in 2015.
Police is in the process of procuring two more helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft, which will bring the total number of helicopters to six. The police air wing, which is now located at Kajjansi was established in 1958 with 14 helicopters and fixed air wings.
Comments
That's commendable and I credit Ochola. He is a true Ugandan.
Refurbishing such a junk-yard flyer makes no sense at all. However, it could be handy tool for garanging purposes.
I wouldn't be surprised if all of a sudden it falls from the sky just a matter of time.
The invitation to reporters talked about a hand over ceremony for one of the reconditioned helicopters recently acquired from Italy.
Now it is a handover for a supposedly repaired 30 year old chopper pulled from the scrap heap of Uganda police??
Repaired for 10billion shillings??? The Observer has an obligation to properly report this story.
Everything seems to operate in some very strange irony in Mr. Museveni's Uganda.
Did they say they are re-establishing an airline soon? Oh no. I will stick with the boda-boda.
It is annoying and ironical that; although Mr. M7 lingua frank is "value addition" and castigating "backwardness", but in reality he is the embodiment of the devaluation and backwardness of Uganda as a country and her citizens.
If the Uganda Police had 14 choppers in 1958, shouldn't we be having more than a hundred now?
If in 1958 the police officers lived in decent and clean barracks with tiled roofs and bigger houses for the higher ranks, shouldn't our officers now be living in more modern accommodations.
While Mr. M7, brother, in-laws and cronies develop dehumanizing potbellies; the 32 years of degenerating standard of living of Ugandans, especially our men and women in uniform is annoying!
The only they can be proud of is new uniforms on their backs and boots on their feet. Otherwise inside they are miserable.
Just wondering how we choose to refurbish a museum piece at UGX 10 billion ( about USD 2.7 million).
I even wonder how someone can be at ease flying in such junk! In Uganda our choices are so dreadful that even the devil shudders!