A Museveni minister has responded to reports of Ugandan presidential jet landing in USA, revealing what is happening. Former NBS journalist Remmy Bahati, now based abroad, claimed that “a Ugandan government aircraft used for VIP travel has landed in the United States, with no official explanation for the trip.”
“The aircraft, registered as 5X-UGF, is a Gulfstream G550 operated by the Government of Uganda and used for official state travel, including the transport of President Yoweri Museveni,” Bahati wrote.
She also quoted flight tracking data from Flight Aware as indicating that “the aircraft transited through Cape Verde before arriving in Savannah, Georgia where it has remained on the ground for over 23 hours as of this publication.”
Bahati observed that it was not clear why the aircraft was in Georgia, and suggested that the government needed to explain to the public what was happening.
“Ugandan authorities have not publicly stated the purpose of the visit. Presidential jets are not routine transport. Their use is comparable in significance to Air Force One in the United States, generally associated with the movement of the head of state or matters of national security. Long-distance deployments of such aircraft typically signal travel of sensitivity or high security levels,” she further wrote.
“The lack of official information has fueled public interest and online discussion about the timing of the aircraft’s arrival in the United States, including unverified claims about the health of First Lady Janet Museveni. The purpose of the aircraft’s presence in the United States remains unclear.”
In response, youth and children’s affairs minister Balaam Barugahara Ateeny has explained what the presidential jet is doing in the US. Barugahara says the aircraft is in the US for a routine maintenance check.
Minister Barugahara even warned against “spreading Lumbuye’s misinformation.”
“Ms Bahati Remmy, for your attention, the manufacturer of Gulfstream business jets is Gulfstream Aerospace. Its main factory and headquarters are in Savannah, Georgia, USA. This is the primary production facility where most Gulfstream jets (such as the G500, G600, and G700) are designed, assembled, and completed,” he explained.
“In simple terms, Savannah serves as the company’s home base, main factory, and a major service center. The jet is currently there undergoing a routine maintenance check.
Let’s avoid spreading Lumbuye’s misinformation. Focus should instead be on productivity and promoting Uganda’s high-quality local produce.”
There has been speculation on the health of Janet Museveni but official government communication channels are yet to come out with a statement dismissing or confirming the reports that remain largely unverified.
Days ago, first daughter Pastor Patience Rwabwogo postponed a national thanksgiving service for peaceful elections, while Minister Barugahara sent heartfelt prayers for Janet Museveni’s health, as detailed Here and There.
Relatedly, you can see juicy salaries of Museveni aeroplane staff Here.
