A military helicopter gunship has been reported to have crashed into a residential house western Ntoroko district of Uganda.
Uganda’s defence spokesperson, Felix Kulayigye, in a statement issued in the national capital of Kampala late Tuesday said that two army crew members of the rank of lieutenant and a civilian whose house was crashed into by the Mi-28 gunship died in the general areas of Karugutu, Ntoroko District, at about 2:00 p.m. local time.
“The crew died (as) heroes as they participated in the struggle to pacify our western frontier of the dreadful ADF terrorists,” said Kulayigye.
Urgent investigations into the circumstances surrounding this accident have commenced as the collision still has the community in shock.
Beyond the immediate area, the impact of the accident is probably going to be felt, prompting inquiries into the operational procedures and safety measures that might have played a role in the premature downing of the military aircraft.
The Ugandan army has been conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants, who have carried out several attacks in Ntoroko.
Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni has called for the activation of paramilitary local defence units to support the army in fighting the militants.
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