You have perhaps ever seen a police aero-plane or helicopter hovering over your head. Some of you have ever seen a police helicopter landing in your area to rescue a Ugandan (s) with medical emergencies.
But having ever seen the police air fleet in the air or physically in your area ground was not enough to make you know the history, the current, and purpose of the Uganda Police Air Wing -UPAW. This article brings you all the information you need to know about the UPAW.
First and foremost, UPAW) was established in 1965 as a department in the ministry of internal affairs, and in the 1990s the management of the unit was transferred to the Inspector General of Police.
At inception, UPAW’s main operation base was at the Airforce base in Entebbe until 2015 when offices were shifted to Kajjansi Airfield Gate 2. Since its birth, UPAW as a unit has been operating aero-planes, and helicopters which were being managed as general aviation to support Government departments and private executives on a hire basis.
Some of the previously operated aero-planes by UPAW include DHC-6 Twin Otter Reg:5X-UVL, Cessna 180 Reg: 5x-UBK, Cessna 180 Reg: 5X-UBC, Cessna 180 Reg: 5X-UBE, Piper Aztec Reg: 5x-UBJ and DHC-4 Caribou Reg: 5X-AAB.
The earlier helicopters were Westland Scout Reg: 5X-UUX, Westland scout Reg: 5X-UUW, Bell 206A Reg: 5X-UVV, Bell 205-A Reg: 5X-UWA, Bell 212 Reg: 5X-UWE, Bell 206b-3 Reg: 5X AUK, Bell 212 Reg: PAW-1 and Bell 47.
Currently, UPAW, operates on a daily basis including public holidays, from 06:30 am to 08:00 pm, and it is part and parcel of the standby services for emergency duties. UPAW now has three helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft.
UPAW responds to priority calls/emergency calls within the country. It also responds to several types of patrol calls like crime in progress, vehicle pursuits, searching for missing rustled cattle, VIP transport, Maritime search, and rescue.
It should be noted that UPAW is run using taxpayers’ money which is part of the budget given to the police force. Because of this, UPAW responds to emergencies whenever its services are needed.
Not only emergency services are offered by UPAW but it plays a key role in enhancing operations as a force multiplier of the country’s internal security. As you read this, the UPAW fleet consists of four Aircraft that include three helicopters AW 109SP, W-3A Sokol, and B206 and one fixed-wing aircraft P180.
The time fixed-wing aircraft spends in the air during an operation depends on the operation being done and the equipment being carried. It also depends on the type of flying involved, for example hovering when it is a hot day takes more fuel compared to slow orbits. Each type of aircraft has its own endurance; Fixed aircraft can stay longer in the air longer than helicopters.
Just like your car or a taxi that transports you every day, aircrafts also have registration number plates. For instance, each aircraft has a registration number which is written on both sides of the tail. Each one starts with “5X” because they have been registered with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
The UPAW that Uganda as a country boasts of has been steered by different leaders. These include W.C. Hutchings who was in charge of the unit from 1969 to 1973, SP L Wasswa from 1974 -1975, Capt. A.N.N Were from 1975-1976, Maj. G. M. Ssematimba from 1977-1980, and J.M Okello in 1981.
Other officers who have been in the stewardship of UPAW are CP E. Basulwa from 1982-2013, ACP Onen Charles from 2014-2016, Brig Kaija Atwooki Ham from 2016-2021, Lt Col Ogwang Franco from 2021-2022, and now Col. Patrick Mbayo Mutome who took over the unit as the commandant on Jan 2022 to date.
UPAW has capabilities of; firefighting, medical evacuation, surveillance and Aerial patrol, cargo transportation, VIP transport, and transporting of UPF officers. Uganda Police Airwing is currently participating in the operations going on in the Karamoja region to end cattle rustling.
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