Killed helicopter pilots: Who really were they?

Aug 16, 2012

Families of the Uganda Air Force officers who perished in the Sunday triple helicopter crashes in Kenya continue in mourning. We look a little deeper into their lives

By Vision Reporters

Capt. William Letti

The 51-year-old Letti has been one of the most experienced pilots in the air force, having flown various types of aircraft, including the Agusta Bell 206, Cesna and MI-24 attack helicopters.

He was involved in Operation Lightning Thunder that flushed Joseph Kony’s LRA rebels out of their hideout in Garamba Forest, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2008. He was also among the top air force crew that fought Kony in northern Uganda.

Letti joined the army in 1987 and acquired basic military training. He then trained in Basic Piloting (PPL) from Soroti Flying School. He later went for the Bell 206 helicopter piloting course in South Africa.

Letti also undertook a conversion piloting course for the MI-24 in Russia.

trueThe fourth born in a family of 18 children, Letti was born in 1961 to Miriam and Nahori Letti (RIP) of Alipi in Yivu sub-county, present-day Maracha district, before they migrated to Mvara Sudan zone in Arua municipality. His father, a former Police officer, had four wives.

Letti went to Arua Demonstration School for his primary education (1968–1974), Kibuli SS for O’ and A’ level.

After S6, he enrolled at Kyambogo Polytechnic in 1980 for a diploma in engineering, but dropped out due to lack of school fees.

Relatives said Letti has not had a specific assignment for over one-and-half years, but was called back about three months ago for the Somalia deployment.

Though mournful, the family in Arua remained calm on Wednesday.

Mike Letti, the deceased’s younger brother, said they received the bad news on Tuesday.

Tracy Bako, the family’s first born, told New Vision that Letti was a footballer and a fan of KCC football team.

Napak RDC Maj. Baker Dudu, who trained and worked with Letti, described the dead officer as a “jolly friendly person with special skills in flying and combat”.

“He was a very experienced combat pilot, especially in MI-24 choppers. In the Kony war, he showed what he was capable of,” said Dudu.

Joyce, Letti’s elder sister, said it will not be easy for the family to cope.

“Letti was a simple boy. He was very kind. His friends have been praying for us since the news came in,” she said.

Letti is survived by a wife, Juliet Adibo and four children – all of them girls. His eldest child is 11 years old and youngest is five years old, according to Joyce.

Burial arrangements, supervised by the air force, are underway.

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Lt. Patrick Nahamya

Sobbing and grief is what is in Rev. James Katamunanwire’s family in Akakoma village, Nyakashasharara sub-county in Kiruhura district following the death of his son, Lt. Patrick Nahamya Rugaju, 35, in a chopper crash in the Mt. Kenya ranges.

Mourners have continued to flock Katamunanwire’s home since Tuesday when the news of the tragedy spread around the hills and valleys of Rushere.

The family has another son serving in the air force, while another one is pursuing an aviation diploma course at Soroti Flying School.

Katamunanwire said the army had informed the family that his son’s remains would be returned later this week.

“I last saw my son in May when he was here for a short visit. We have since been talking on telephone. Before departure, he called me on Sunday telling me about the trip. However, his journey was cut short before the mission,” Katamunanwire said yesterday.

Nahamya is father of three in a young family where the first born is five years old.

He had plans to wed his fiancée, Consante, the mother of the children who lives in Entebbe.

“My son had arranged to have the wedding and the christening of the children this year,” Katamunanwire said.

Margaret Katamunanwire, the bereaved mother, believes that God will keep the born-again family strong during the trying moments.

“Soon after giving birth to Nahamya in 1977 in Rushere, I was struck by some illness and sought help. My son was raised by his grandmother until 1984 when he joined Rushere Primary School in Kiruhura,” she said.

trueHe completed his primary education at Mbarara Junior School.

He joined Muntuyera High School Kitunga for his O’ level and Masaka SS for his A’level education.

Nahamya joined Kyambogo University in 1999, to study Telecomm engineering.

However, he left the course in the third year to join the army in 2003, his younger brother, the Rev. Emmanuel Kwesiga Katamunanwire, added.

Kwesiga said Nahamya attained several military courses in Kaweweta, Entebbe, Soroti Flying School and Tanzania.

He also had a three-year training in Russia (2007-2010) and another in China in 2011 before coming back to Entebbe Airforce.

His friend, Lauben Mukombozi, said Nahamya had plans to construct a house for his family this year before he got a peace-keeping mission to Somalia
 

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