UNTOLD STORY: Shs 30bn UPDF’s Israel-made Drone Crashed in DRC

A Shs 30bn UPDF drone crashed in the eastern Republic of Congo (DRC) in late 2024 during a secret reconnaissance operation, a United Nations report has revealed. 

The incident, which occurred on the evening of August 11, 2024, was not disclosed to the public by the military. 

Efforts to reach army spokesperson Brigadier Felix Kulayigye for comment were yet to bear fruit. 

Kulayigye’s deputy, Col Deo Akiiiki said he was yet to read the report. 

According to the UN Group of Experts report on eastern DRC report for the year 2024, the crash occurred outside Shujaa operational area raising tensions with the Congolese armed forces. 

“On the evening of 11 August 2024, a military drone with Ugandan flag markings crashed on a hill in Bwisabuni village, Djugu territory, about 10 kilometers southeast of Bunia,” the report seen by ChimpReports reads in part.

“FARDC retrieved the drone, claiming that the flight recorder and some other technical parts were allegedly taken by local armed elements who first discovered the wreckage.”

The drone was reportedly supplied by a company associated with Israel defence contractor, Gil Sibol.

Officials said the drone was meant to have capacity to carry missiles to shoot at ADF.

However, sources say Uganda was sold a second hand drone expensively which didn’t have the capacity to strike the enemy.

Based on the images of the wreckage and reports written by military experts, that the UN Group obtained confidential copies of, the drone was identified as the HERMES 900 Starliner, manufactured by Israel company, ELBIT SYSTEM.

Weighing 970 kgs, HERMES 900 is a medium-sized, multi-payload drone with medium altitude and long endurance, succeeding the HERMES 450 series—one of the most widely used military drones globally. It is configured for tactical, operational, or strategic observation missions.

it remains unclear why the drone, which has an endurance of over 30 hours and can fly at a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet (9,100 meters), crashed, 

The main mission of the 15-metre-wingspan drone includes reconnaissance, surveillance, and communications relay. The cost of this drone ranges between $6.8 million (Shs 26bn) and $8.8 million (Shs 31bn), according to the UN.

The drone’s capabilities include electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar, communications, electronic intelligence, electronic warfare, and hyperspectral sensors.

Frustration

A source with access to FARDC and UPDF high command, with direct knowledge of the matter, reported that UPDF “acknowledged ownership of the drone”, and that the crash sparked significant frustration from FARDC officials. 

The source claimed UPDF explained that the drone was intended for operations in Komanda where UPDF have been hunting down ADF fighters. 

The FARDC expressed strong discontent with the UPDF’s “lack of advance notification”, emphasizing that UPDF should “follow the example set by MONUSCO, which consistently informs FARDC prior to launching drones in Congolese airspace.”

FARDC intelligence sources claimed that the UPDF surveillance drone violated Congolese airspace in an area not covered by the Shujaa Operation. 

Several high ranking FARDC officers voiced their suspicion that the drone has been conducting reconnaissance in Djugu territory due to ongoing security issues near Lake Albert, claiming previous sightings of a similar drone flying over Congolese airspace in the area of Tchomia. T

This incident has highlighted ongoing issues regarding coordination and communication between the two forces.

Despite unofficially claiming a serious breach of Congolese airspace represented by the incident, the UN investigators said they were unaware of any official complaint filed by the Congolese authorities with the Government of Uganda.

UPDF Aircraft incidents

The UPDF has lost many aircraft in recent years. 

In 2023, UPDF Diamond spy aircraft helping Ugandan armed forces to locate ADF bases in DRC and providing coordinates for long-range and aerial strikes, crashed in Kasese district.

In September 2022, at least 22 UPDF soldiers including experienced combat operations officers were killed when a UPDF helicopter crashed in DRC after delivering logistics to Ugandan soldiers fighting the ADF insurgents in the region.

The Mi-17, which was primarily used for transportation, reportedly hit a tree shortly after taking off and crashed on troops on the ground collecting food it had just delivered. 

In July 2023, a UPDF helicopter which was on routine operations in Karamoja sub region crash landed while in 2022, two Mi-24 helicopters crashed in Fort Portal and Mityana. 

In 2021, a UPDF jet ranger crashed at Lido beach in Entebbe, killing Capt Caroline Busingye.

The Entebbe crash happened six days after another UPDF helicopter came down soon after taking off in Balidogle, Somalia.