Uganda denies buying Su-30 Flanker fighter plane

UGANDA has denied international media reports that it has signed a deal for the purchase of six fighter jets from a Russian company. Several Russian media houses yesterday reported that state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed two contracts worth $1.2b for the delivery of six fighters to Uganda and another 16 to Algeria. “The two African nations will receive different models of the Su-30 Flanker fighters,” said Vedomosti, Russia’s most reputable business daily, adding that Kampala will receive the Su-30MK2 model.Russia’s state-owned radio, The Voice of Russia, quoting a Moscow military-diplomatic source, said Uganda was planning to sign the agreement and pay for the planes with oil money. “Since Uganda is short of real money to pay for the planes, Russian LUKoil is negotiating its potential participation in developing large oil fields in Uganda, implying a possible swapping,” said the radio.However, army spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye dismissed the reports as untrue. .......................................Source

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