IN PICTURES: Fighter Jets, Choppers and Paratroopers Stun Crowds At Kololo

The skies above Kampala roared to life as the Uganda People’s Defence Air Force delivered a jaw-dropping aerial show during President Museveni’s swearing-in.

A Sukhoi jet performs an “insane” backflip maneuver during the airshow at President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration May 12, 2026. PHOTO BY ALEX MASEREKA JOEL

Sukhoi fighter jets screamed across the airspace while military helicopters and other aircraft performed coordinated fly-pasts that left crowds cheering wildly.

But the loudest excitement came when six Special Forces Command paratroopers descended dramatically from a helicopter directly into Kololo grounds.

The daring airborne display drew gasps and thunderous applause from thousands of spectators, with many waving flags and chanting as the commandos touched down with precision.

The aerial showcase highlighted Uganda’s expanding air capabilities and the growing sophistication of its elite military units.

Foreign dignitaries and heads of state were seen watching attentively as the UPDAF turned the skies into a theatre of military spectacle. (ALL PHOTOS BY ALEX MASEREKA JOEL)

Sukhoi jets roared in the skies of Kampala during the airshow. PHOTO BY ALEX MASEREKA JOEL