Uganda opens new helicopter MRO facility
The facility is intended to reduce maintenance and overhaul costs for the Ugandan military, which previously transported its aircraft abroad for MRO work
Uganda opened a new helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Nakasongala Air Base on 22 January, following a ceremony attended by President Yoweri Museveni.
The facility, known as the Pro Heli International Services helicopter MRO plant, is located in central Uganda and due west of Lake Kyoga, and is intended to reduce maintenance costs for the country’s military helicopters.
The Ugandan government previously transported their aircraft abroad for overhaul when required to. According to President Yoweri Museveni, the facility ‘will help Uganda save about US$3.5 million that could have been spent on transportation and overhauling one helicopter outside Uganda’.
The Ugandan Air Force currently operates a mixed fleet of Bell UH-1 and 206, Mi-24 and Mi-17 aircraft. The MRO site is reportedly fully certified to Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.