Fresh Details Emerge On The US Spy Plane That Was Spying On Uganda And State House For Over 72 Hours

Fresh details have emerged about the United States spy plane which violated Uganda’s airspace, showing the aircraft could have photographed UPDF’s secret bases near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and oil production facilities.

Uganda’s Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Brig Felix Kulayigye confirmed that the on three occasions in November 2024, Bombardier Challenger 604, tail number N9191, did circuits around Kasese and Bundibugyo in Uganda and Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“It is true and the matter is being handled at the highest level,” Kulayigye was quoted as saying.

The violations of Uganda’s airspace were recorded by Ugandan radar stations on the 14th, 15th and 26th of November.

The U.S Defence Attaché’s Office in Kampala had in October requested overflight permission from the Office of the Chief of Joint Staff of the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces, Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba.

The U.S. claimed that the flights were meant to transport equipment and personnel to DRC.

Interestingly, the plane never landed in DRC.

Ugandan radars, according to informed officials, conducted suspicious operations near UPDF military facilities and oil production areas in the Albertine belt.

“The spy plane’s maneuvers were conducted in some of our most sensitive areas,” said a source who preferred anonymity to speak freely.

“In the Albertine Area, we have oil production facilities and specialised military bases facilitating operations against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terror groups in neighbouring DRC,” the source added.

“So, of all places, why was the spy plane focused on this area? And what type of data was collected by this spy plane?”

U.S. speaks out

The spokesperson of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) sent a statement to the media in Kampala, saying the aircraft “deviated from an approved flight path” and did not engage in surveillance.

AFRICOM further said it was working with Ugandan authorities to ensure that “no further flight path errors occur.”

However, AFRICOM did not explain why the U.S. plane did not land in DRC as planned. It also did not shed light on the circumstances under which a plane could miss its flight path on three occasions.

History of espionage

Research conducted by The Kampala Eye shows that the Bombardier CL-604 maritime surveillance aircraft has some of the most modern technology and could therefore not deviate from the approved flight path.

Moreso, the same aircraft had been cited in several spying operations.

According to South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), an international research network, on April 7, the Bombardier CL-604 maritime surveillance aircraft flew its very first reconnaissance mission over the East China Sea and Yellow Sea; till July 16.

“It was sent on a South China Sea mission for the first time. As of November 11, the aircraft has made 139 flights to the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and the northern part of the Taiwan Strait, and 17 flights to the South China Sea,” the SCSPI observed.

The Bombardier Challenger-604 maritime surveillance aircraft is a simplified version of the P-8A developed by Boeing Company, with the ability to track, monitor and detect multiple targets at sea.

According to Boeing’s official website, the surveillance aircraft has a wingspan of 19.8 meters, a length of 21 meters, a height of 6.4 meters, and a high cruise speed of 459+ knots.

The crew includes 2 pilots and 3 to 5 mission staff, which can perform reconnaissance missions for up to 8 hours.

With no capacity of aerial refueling, the Challenger-604 would usually make a stopover at Filipino Clark Air Base when flying South China Sea missions, to ensure ample time for reconnaissance

According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, this aircraft is affiliated with Tenax Aerospace Corporation. Headquartered in Madison, Mississippi, Tenax is a U.S. private-owned company, which focuses on special mission aviation programs critical to national security and the public interest including, but not limited to: aerial fire suppression, aerial intelligence gathering and airborne data acquisition, according to its official website.

Tenax includes experienced leaders with backgrounds in the U.S. military, among which, Director Michael V. Hayden and Charles R. Holland, are particularly noticeable.

The former was the director of the CIA and the latter served as the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

This company has such inextricable relationships with the U.S. intelligence and the military, that it is not surprising to find its business involves the field of reconnaissance and intelligence.

It is understood that the violation of Ugandan airspace was brought to the attention of Ugandan Chief of Defense Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and President Museveni.

The UPDF Chief of Joint Staff has since revoked the aircraft’s earlier authorization of overflight over Ugandan territory.