Summary:

• The police plan to sell a costly aircraft due to its limited usefulness and high maintenance costs, opting for a more suitable replacement through proper procedures.

The police have announced plans to sell the 9-seater 5XPEF/P180 PIAGO AVANTI purchased in 2019 for shs28 billion. During a guided tour on Friday at the police wing in Entebbe, journalists were shown the aircraft.

Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, stated that despite its capability to remain airborne for up to 8 hours and provide aerial support, the aircraft has failed to yield positive outcomes since acquisition. With only 117 hours of flying time, it’s not suitable for non-tarmacked runways and requires costly inspections, insurance, and maintenance without yielding benefits.

After reporting the matter to the Internal Affairs minister, approval was granted for the disposal of the unserviceable aircraft and procurement of a compatible helicopter. The aircraft was inspected by a board of survey in October 2022 and valued at $4.2 million, considering various factors including technical condition and market prices.

Enanga clarified that the disposal process follows the PPDA regulations, emphasizing the police force’s intention to acquire a new, more suitable aircraft through trade-in procurement, in line with the law. Dismissing rumors of silent disposal, he assured that the process is transparent and compliant.