The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has today announced that it has put its Fixed Wing Aircraft, 5X-PEF/PI80 Piaggio Avanti II Evo-9 seater bought at over 30 billion shillings in June 2019 on market for a tune of only 16.6 billion shillings.
Col Patrick Mbayo Mutome the Police Airwing Commandant and SCP Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said the Aircraft cannot be used because it has to land at only tarmacked runways and this has rendered it almost useless.
Read Full Explanation Here.
As you are all aware, the Uganda Police Airwing is a support unit, which provides aerial patrols, search and rescue, rapid response and troop transportation, aerial surveillance for pirates and other criminal elements, aerial assault, insertion and extraction, VIP transportation, medevac and casevac.
They also carry out anti terrorism roles. The Airwing currently operates 4 Aircrafts, comprising of 03 Helicopters, and 01 , which was acquired in June 2019. During the year 2023, the Airwing using the 3 Helicopters, responded to multiple incidents in the Karamoja region, the Rwenzori region and the cities of Kampala, Jinja, Hoima, Mbarara, Lira, Gulu, Soroti, Arua among others, which makes it an integral and essential part of policing in the country.
However, the Fixed wing PI80 Piaggio Avanti II that was acquired in June 2019, at a cost of USD 7.840.000, did not achieve any positive outcome, yet it has the capacity of remaining airborne for up to 8 hours while providing aerial support.
Since its acquisition, it has only covered a total flying distance of 117 hrs, because it is not designed for non tarmacked runways, undergoes expensive mandatory inspections, insurance and AMO with no benefits realised. In addition, the Aircraft parts are very expensive given the nature and category of luxury.
The Hon. Minister gave no objection to the disposal of the unserviceable aircraft and procurement of the new compatible helicopter. A composite Board of Survey on 19.10.2022. Inspected the aircraft and valued it at USD 4.271, 709.06. The value that was considered in the valuation analysis by Board of Survey includes; Depreciated replacement cost valuation, technical condition, based valuation, Blue book values, current marketing running prices, a minimum of USD 100,681.79 to replace expired parts and it being the only aircraft on the African continent.
Therefore, the replacement of the fixed wing aircraft will provide the Police Airwing with an additional operational and effective Crime fighting tool. So far, several types of aircraft have been reviewed, with manufacturers and in total consideration of the aircraft possible loads and operations of the Uganda Police.
As we conclude, it is considered option of the UPF that the Paggio Avanti 11 Evo is disposed off and a new generation compatible aircraft acquired, through the trade-in procurement sourcing method, ans in line with the PPDA laws and regulations.