Uganda Army Responds to Viral Video of Unskilful Parachuters

A collage image of parachuters alleged to belong to UPDF.
A collage image of parachuters alleged to belong to UPDF.
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Mike Sonko

The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) has distanced itself from a video that captured parachuters landing unskilfully at an event.  

In a statement, UPDF spokesperson Spokesperson, Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, denied any knowledge of the parachuters in the video that went viral on social media, especially in Kenya.

Kenyans mocked Uganda, with a section of the critics trolling its General, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who had threatened to raid Kenya with his army. 

"Our attention has been drawn to a video doing rounds on social media purported to be a video of UPDF paratroopers that performed a tremendous job on Independence Day. Therefore, ignore this video because it is fake.

Photo of UPDF General and son of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni,Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Photo of UPDF General and son of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Daily Monitor

"A keen eye will see that the parachutes are not the ones that were used at Kololo ceremonial grounds. Secondly, such a crowd did not attend the Independence Celebration and all our paratroopers had successful jumps," read the statement in part.

The video of the parachuters emerged on social media a day after Uganda held its independence celebrations attended by Kenya's President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto. 

Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko wondered how Muhoozi planned to capture Nairobi with such unskilled paratroopers.

"These are Ugandan paratroopers. Are they the people who want to take over  Nairobi in a week?

"Instead of landing at the centre of the field, they are landing on top of the stadium roofs and people," Sonko joined Kenyans in trolling Muhoozi. 

Others argued that Uganda's army was untrained and could not match their Kenyan counterparts in showcasing skills at drills. 

"If that's the way they were going to land in Nairobi under the command of Muhoozi to capture the city, then could just send jeshi la wokovu to deal with them," a tweep joked. 

Muhoozi was dropped as the Commander of Land forces and promoted to General by his father, Yoweri Museveni who also apologised to Ruto and Kenya. 

"Dear Ugandans, the brotherly people of Kenya, and all East Africans.  I greet all of you. I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for the tweets sent by General Muhoozi," Museveni reached out. 

Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Mike Sonko to Kenya Kwanza on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Mike Sonko to Kenya Kwanza on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
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