President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Commander in Chief has said that the country’s air force has played a big role in the fight against the ADF rebels.
Museveni made the remarks at the Air Command and Leadership Training Institute in Nakasongola District where he presented a lecture of opportunity to 62 air force officers who have completed a Squadron Officers course that lasted 28 weeks.
The president also commissioned the institute and passed out the officers.
The president also addressed the squadron officers and guests who attended the passing out ceremony but also witnessed an air force demonstration of their operations against hostile forces.
He paid tribute to UPDF for the job well done when it launched an attack on the ADF rebels in Eastern DR Congo on November 30, 2021.
He observed that the training of an air force pilot takes 35 hours at a rate of US $ 10,000 per hour.
He, therefore, noted that it is good to minimise costs as has been demonstrated by training within the country.
The president noted that air force pilots were currently earning Shs4million per month and said that this package was not sufficient assuring them that the pay would be revised upwards as soon as resources are available.
He said that it was crucial for the officers to remain alive by taking care of their lives.
