Andrew Mukooza

Andrew Joet Mukooza (21 July 1944 – 24 April 1979) was a Ugandan military officer and fighter pilot who served as the last head of the Uganda Army Air Force before its destruction during the Uganda–Tanzania War. He was also Idi Amin's personal pilot during the latter's rule of Uganda.

Born in eastern Uganda, Mukooza joined the air force during the presidency of Milton Obote. After Amin took power in 1971, Mukooza stayed firmly loyal to his regime, and consequently rose in the ranks. He possibly helped Amin to defeat a coup attempt in 1977, drawing the ire of Uganda's opposition. When the Uganda–Tanzania War broke out, Mukooza initially flew missions as a fighter pilot and became head of the Uganda Army Air Force when the latter began to disintegrate amid heavy combat losses, defections, and desertions. Following the defeat of Amin, Mukooza surrendered to the new Tanzanian-backed government of Uganda, but was murdered under uncertain circumstances.

Biography Early life and career

Mukooza rose through the ranks under President Idi Amin (pictured).

Andrew Joet Mukooza was born to Yoramu Mukooza and his wife Erina in Mbulamuti, Busoga, Uganda Protectorate on 21 July 1944. His father was murdered soon after Andrew's birth, resulting in his mother remarrying her brother-in-law Gershom Mukooza per Busoga customs. Andrew went on to study at the Kiira College Butiki and Teso College Aloet. After Uganda's independence, Mukooza joined the nascent Uganda Army Air Force (UAAF), and was sent to the Soviet Union to receive training on flying MiG aircraft. Upon returning to his home country, he was stationed at Gulu Air Force Base where he met Miriam Katumba, a nurse working at the Gulu Government Hospital. The two married at some point between 1969 and 1971 and had four children.

In January 1971, army chief Idi Amin overthrew the government of Milton Obote and installed himself as President of Uganda. Obote fled into exile, from where he conspired to regain power. Mukooza survived the subsequent political purges, and was selected as one of the pilots of Amin's new Grumman Gulfstream II private jet. Mukooza consequently relocated with his family to Entebbe. He received further training at the local airport by Grumman captain Tom Friedrich, while Miriam started to work at the Entebbe Grade A hospital.

The Uganda–Tanzania War and death

Mukooza flew a MiG-17 (example pictured) during the air campaign of the Uganda–Tanzania War.

Long-standing tensions between Uganda and Tanzania resulted in open warfare in late 1978, following the Ugandan military invasion of the Kagera salient under unclear circumstances. The Uganda Army Air Force assisted the invasion by attacking military and civilian targets in northern Tanzania. President Amin personally ordered Mukooza and his co-pilot Levi Mugyenyi to fly a bombing mission with their MiG-17. The two carried out the mission, but were almost shot down by Tanzanian anti-aircraft fire. The Battle of Entebbe on 7 April 1979 resulted in the destruction of most of the UAAF. Panic spread at the other air bases, and what remained of the Uganda Army Air Force completely disintegrated. This left Mukooza with no means to continue the fight, and he stayed in Jinja. The police eventually collected his body and identified him based on his driving permit. The police did not inform anyone, however, and instead registered "an unidentified male-dark-tall body" which they handed over to Mulago Hospital's mortuary. He was probably buried in a mass grave at Bukasa near Kirinya, Jinja District on 2 May 1979.

His family subsequently began to search for his whereabouts. Elly Malagala and Barnabas, his brothers-in-law, drove to his home in Entebbe in hopes of finding him alive. Mukooza's house was deserted except for a stray dog, however, and had been looted and vandalised. Grumman Corporation also searched for Mukooza, as he was entitled to US$20,000 from the company's provident fund. The corporation confirmed his death in 1988.

Personal life Andrew Mukooza had two younger half-sisters, Gertrude and Kalivvamu, and four children, namely Andrew, Becky, Thomas, and Peter. He was a close friend of Isaac Lumago.