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Kampala, Uganda | INDEPENDENT | The Police leadership has given the Police Air Wing green light to provide charter services as part of the non-tax revenue contribution to the force.
The resolution stems from a proposal by the Undersecretary to the Police Policy and Advisory Committee to start charter services using the Police helicopters and fixed air wing air craft, which are often idle.
According to the proposal, the money from the charter services will be used to improve police welfare and contribute to the consolidated fund. Apparently, the Police air wing has three helicopters and a single fixed wing aircraft. However, the force is the in process of importing two more helicopters and one fixed aircraft.
A reliable source on the Police management told URN that charter services have been fixed as one of the non-tax revenue contributions for the next financial year. “We expect it to begin the next financial year. Our prospects for this new business are high. Just imagine those helicopters are parked and are not being used yet they incur servicing costs. This is a good thing,” the source told URN on condition of anonymity.
Police Spokesperson, Emilian Kayima said, “all I know is there have been stakeholder’s meetings to discuss that as an option but it has not started.” The Police charter services are likely to start in July 2019 mainly targeting inland movement of local businessmen, tourists and politicians. The force is yet to decide the course of the trip.
The Police air wing, which has been operating at Kajjansi airfield, will soon relocate its new base in Jinja. The force has been constructing an airbase with an aircraft maintenance and hanger in Kimaka in Jinja District. The facility, which seats on a 10 acre piece of land is estimated to cost up to Shillings 38billion once it has been completed.
Last year, police contracted M/S Roko Services to construct the police air base. The force will pay the money in three installments. In the 2017/2018 financial year, police paid the contractor Shillings 10.7billion.
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