Three Confirmed Dead In UPDF Helicopter Crash
A military helicopter belonging to the UPDF crashed and burned to ashes in the hills of Karugutu-Ntoroko District on Tuesday evening.
Three people were confirmed dead after a military helicopter belonging to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) crashed and burned to ashes in the hills of Karugutu-Ntoroko District on Tuesday, January 2, evening.
The deceased were identified as one civilian and three UPDF soldiers who were headed to the DRC for ‘Operation Shuuja’ against the ADF militants.
“It’s true the UPDF helicopter crashed today. The helicopter had two occupants, and they all died heroes as they participated in the struggle to pacify our Western frontier of the dreadful ADF terrorists,” UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen Felix Kulaigye confirmed.
Speaking about the cause of the crash, Brig. Gen Kulayigye attached the unfortunate incident to “bad weather,” in the mountainous areas of Nyamisingiri Village, Kichwamba Sub-County, just a few meters away from the border of Kabarole and Ntoroko districts.
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Alfred Mugume, one of the locals and eyewitnesses narrated that he saw two helicopters flying towards DRC and within a few minutes, he heard a very loud noise accompanied by a big cloud of smoke in the skies.
”When I came closer to the scene, I found that the helicopter had crashed, but I could not see because the house was on top of the hill,” he revealed.
“I saw the body of the homeowner in the middle of the compound, and later- the second body of the soldier in the house. Together with soldiers, we proceeded to the scene when the smoke reduced. We found another body of a soldier,” Mugume added.
A number of locals gathered across the hills and observed from a distance until other UPDF soldiers who had now arrived at the scene dispersed them.
This is not the first time the army helicopter has crashed in Kabarole District.
In September 2022, a Mi-24 helicopter with two occupants heading to DRC crashed near Ssaka Airfield.
The crash was attributed to ‘a technical fault in the wiring system’.
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