General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has formally acknowledged condolence messages from the British government and military following the tragic loss of five Ugandan soldiers in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The condolences were conveyed to General Kainerugaba by the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Her Excellency Lisa Chesney MBE, and Lieutenant Colonel Ash Wiseman, the British Defence Attaché in Uganda.
The gesture underscores the strong bilateral ties between the United Kingdom and Uganda, particularly in matters of defense and regional security cooperation.
The incident involved a UPDF Mi-24 helicopter, tail number AUO-015, operating under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The helicopter, carrying eight personnel, crashed approximately 200 meters east of the airport’s North Ramp during a routine combat escort mission, shortly after departing from Baledogle Airbase in the Lower Shabelle region.
The crash triggered a violent explosion due to onboard munitions, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and severe injuries to the pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer, who were evacuated to the AUSSOM Level II hospital in Mogadishu for emergency treatment. The explosion also caused damage to nearby structures and injured three civilians.
Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, UPDF spokesperson, expressed the military’s grief, stating, “Quick recovery to the injured and may the souls of the deceased comrades rest in peace.”
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, with preliminary reports suggesting the helicopter crash-landed just before touching down at the airport.
The British High Commissioner, in her message, expressed deep sorrow for the loss of the Ugandan peacekeepers, commending their dedication to stabilizing Somalia against the al-Shabab insurgency.
Lieutenant Colonel Wiseman echoed these sentiments, highlighting the professionalism and sacrifice of the UPDF in supporting the African Union’s peacekeeping efforts.
Uganda remains a key contributor to AUSSOM, with over 5,000 troops deployed as part of the 11,000-strong force aiding the Somali government in its fight against al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group waging a decades-long insurgency.
The crash marks another somber moment for the UPDF, which lost a transport helicopter in a similar incident in September 2024.
General Kainerugaba expressed gratitude for the support from the British government, noting that such solidarity strengthens the resolve of the UPDF to continue its mission in Somalia.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority and AUSSOM have confirmed that rescue operations were swiftly conducted, and the airport has resumed normal operations following minor disruptions, including the diversion of a Turkish Airlines flight.