A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Russian-made Mi-28 attack helicopter Tuesday January 2, 2023 fell down from the sky leading to the death of an unspecified number of people including all crew members and yet to be identified civilians.
The incident which had been confirmed by the UPDF spokesperson, Brig Gen. Felix Kulayigye occured in Karugutu village in Ntoroko district, western Uganda.
The Tuesday incident in which the fighter jet turned into smouldering rubble comes less than a week after a UPDF reconnaissance plane used to hunt down ADF militants in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crashed in Kasese district.
According to a press statement issued by the UPDF, the helicopter was enroute to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the statement, Brig Gen. Felix Kulayigye says the accident occurred at 2PM though he was non commital to provide identities of the crew members.
It is said that the helicopter crashed on a house of a civilian who is suspected to have died on spot.
“We regret to announce a gunship helicopter crash this afternoon at 1400hours at the general area of Karugutu Ntoroko” read part of the press release issued by Kulayigye
He added that we lost a helicopter gunship and the crew plus the civilian on whose house it crashed.
“Experts shall investigate details of the accident, identities of the crew shall be made available after informing the next of Kin”.
“We commiserate with their families at this very difficult moment, the crew died Heroes as they participated in the struggle to pacify our western frontier of the dreadful ADF terrorists”. Kulayigye noted
