The two pilots who died in last week’s UPDF helicopter crash in Ntoroko have been buried in Lyantonde and Yumbe districts respectively.
Speaking during burial at Seeta village, Kinuuka sub-county in Lyantonde district, the Entebbe Air Force Wing commander Entebbe, Brig Chris Kasaija eulogized Lt Allan Tukamuhabwa as an extraordinary pilot whose services will be greatly missed by the UPDF and country at large.
“He did a good job in the fight against insecurity from the Allied Defense Forces (ADF) in western Uganda and as far as DRC and will always be remembered because he died in the line of duty. He will be missed and the UPDF – Air Force will stand with the family of the late Lt Allan in these trying moments,” Brig Gen Kasaija said.
Brig Kasaija told mourners that Lt Tukamuhabwa had done his basic flying course and had reached the peak of flying advanced combat helicopters (Cobra Squadron).
He added that the late was an extraordinary pilot who was serious about his routine duties and every time he went to work, he expected positive results and had a passion and commitment towards his call of duty.
Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) James Kakooza commiserated with the family of James Rugazu, the father to the late Lt Tukamuhabwa and pledged to provide education to one of the children of the late.
Kakooza observed that the mission of UPDF is not yet over and said that Uganda is committed to the Pan-Africanism cause and ensuring security and prosperity in the East African region by wiping out insecurity.
He thanked UPDF for the proper training and for making it a force to reckon with in Africa.
In Yumbe, the UPDF Air Force command, Gen Charles Okidi said Lt Swadik Aroma Balewa was an extraordinary pilot whose services will be greatly missed.
“My pilot has left us at a time when we needed him most,”Gen Okidi said.
He said the chopper in which the two UPDF officers was one of the new Mi-28 helicopters with only 100 hours it has ever flown since its production.
The UPDF Air Force commander said the crash was a big blow since it is not easy to replace the pilots on whom government had spent a lot of money and time to train.
