Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the maintenance and technical support of the Ugandan Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets. 

According to Ugandan news website The Independent, the MOU was signed on March 4, 2022, by the Indian High Commission in Uganda and the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Commander, Charles Lutaaya. 

Uganda purchased the Su-30MK2 jets from Russia in 2011. So far, their maintenance has been carried out by Russia’s United Aircraft corporation, specifically the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant. According to Lenta.ru, the plant performed repairs on Ugandan jets following accidents in 2012 and 2016. 

HAL purchased a license to manufacture the Su-30 in 1995 and has provided the majority of the jets to the Indian Air Force.  

Neither Ugandan military nor HAL have provided any information regarding the reason for the change from Russian to Indian maintenance support.  

The Ugandan Air Force initially possessed six Su-30s, however, one crashed in 2020, killing both pilots.