President Museveni commissions first overhauled Russian helicopter in Africa

The President and Commander in Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, presided over the commissioning into flight of the first overhauled Russian helicopter (MI 24) south of the Sahara at Proheli International Services Limited’s MRO Plant headquarters in Nakasongola district.

At the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated Proheli for developing and bringing the facility to Uganda. He noted that Russia has partnered with Uganda for the last 100 years and has never harmed them, highlighting the need to re-establish and strengthen existing contacts with Russia through such MRO facilities.

The President called for continuous cooperation and promotion of interests based on building capabilities for the continuity of the human race.

President Museveni further stressed that the maintenance, overhauling and upgrading of Russian helicopters in Uganda is a correct idea since it enhances the generation of local capacity, lowers labour costs, promotes defense cooperation and facilitates economic growth as income is generated from other countries who attempt to overhaul from Uganda.

The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, commended the President for building a modern and productive army, and noted that the dream of growing the defense industry has come to fruition with the evidenced helicopter overhaul.

The Chief of Defense Forces, Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, noted that the overhaul is a landmark achievement in Uganda’s aviation industry since it is the first helicopter to be overhauled south of the Sahara.

He added that the facility reflects the workability of the tripartite doctrine, which demands that any assistance given must aim at building internal capacity to acquire self-reliance as guided by the President.

The Managing Director of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the production and commercial arm of UPDF which entered a joint venture with Proheli to overhaul the MI 24 helicopter, James Mugira, lauded UPDF fraternity and Proheli for a job well done since the facility enables technological transfer, saves resources, reduces lead time, and offers research opportunities.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Proheli, Valerii Copeichin, the facility intends to be a one-stop – center for helicopter MRO, grow local human resources, manufacture electronic software for helicopters, and intends to manufacture a Ugandan-made helicopter using local manpower.

Copeichin promised that they are determined to work together with UPDF to stabilize Uganda’s defense, adding that the overhaul of Sukhoi aircraft will soon be an addition to the Nakasongola facility.

The commissioning ceremony was also attended by distinguished guests from the Russian embassy in Uganda, visiting delegations from Russia, Proheli staff, and UPDF officers and militants.