One killed as UPDF chopper crashes in Kabarole

The wreckage after the crash

One person has been confirmed dead after a military helicopter crashed in Kabarole district.

The helicopter crashed on Tuesday at 2:30 pm in Nyamisingiri village, Bwanika parish Kichwamba sub-county.

The helicopter was headed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after taking off from Ssaka airfield. According to eyewitnesses, before it crashed, the helicopter hit the roof of two houses before going into flames.

Jack Magezi, the LC III chairperson of Kichwamba sub-county said that the helicopter crashed into the house of a resident only identified as Mukidi, killing him instantly.

Maj Naboth Mugisha, spokesperson of the UPDF Air Force said that the incident was purely an accident. He however declined to divulge information about the occupants of the helicopter.

Our reporter in Kabarole says that UPDF soldiers have cordoned off the scene of the crash to prevent on-lookers from getting to it.