Premier Nsibambi survives plane crash
Mar 09, 2010
A HELICOPTER with the Prime Minister on board yesterday hit a tree as it made an emergency landing in Bugiri, eastern Uganda.
By Herbert Ssempogo, George Bita and Andante Okanya
A HELICOPTER with the Prime Minister on board yesterday hit a tree as it made an emergency landing in Bugiri, eastern Uganda.
The afternoon incident occurred in the compound of Bugiri Hospital as Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and six passengers returned to Kampala from the disaster-struck areas.
Speaking to The New Vision while receiving treatment, Nsibambi said the plane developed a technical problem.
The pilot, Emma Basulwa, was in a bad condition and was carried to the hospital on a stretcher, he added. Nsibambi said the helicopter was “highly damagedâ€.
The other passengers were permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana, Nsibambi’s aide, Peter Isabirye and two members of his press team, Apollo Muhinda and Rose Oyere. Also on board was the co-pilot, Elijah Matovu. Both Nsibambi and the PS complained of pain in the back while Oyere had neck pain.
Nsibambi said President Yoweri Museveni ordered another helicopter to pick them from Bugiri.
Muhammad Mugoya, an eyewitness, said the plane lost altitude as it flew over Bugiri town.
He said he feared it was going to crash into the hospital buildings.
James Isabirye, a bicycle repairer, saw the helicopter spin before hitting the tree near the maternity ward. Nsibambi and his team were flying to Kampala after receiving relief items from the Kenyan government at Lwakhakha, on the Ugandan-Kenyan border.
The items were meant for the victims of the landslide in Bududa.
Information minister Masiko Kabakumba said the plane is new, having been acquired in 2008 and was well-maintained.
She said the pilot is one of the most experienced, with 30 years of flying helicopters. She urged the public not to speculate over the accident but await the probe findings.
The Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said an investigation would be launched into the cause of the fault.
Uganda has seen several plane accidents in the recent past.
In November, four people, including the director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Moses Mapesa, survived after their plane crashed shortly after take-off in Adjumani district.
The pilot attributed the accident to grass that was entangled in the plane’s flaps.
On November 24, the president of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, had a plane mishap when the tyre of the plane burst on the runway in Gulu.
His predecessor, John Garang, was killed in a helicopter crash on his way back to his base in Southern Sudan in July 2005.
A HELICOPTER with the Prime Minister on board yesterday hit a tree as it made an emergency landing in Bugiri, eastern Uganda.
The afternoon incident occurred in the compound of Bugiri Hospital as Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and six passengers returned to Kampala from the disaster-struck areas.
Speaking to The New Vision while receiving treatment, Nsibambi said the plane developed a technical problem.
The pilot, Emma Basulwa, was in a bad condition and was carried to the hospital on a stretcher, he added. Nsibambi said the helicopter was “highly damagedâ€.
The other passengers were permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana, Nsibambi’s aide, Peter Isabirye and two members of his press team, Apollo Muhinda and Rose Oyere. Also on board was the co-pilot, Elijah Matovu. Both Nsibambi and the PS complained of pain in the back while Oyere had neck pain.
Nsibambi said President Yoweri Museveni ordered another helicopter to pick them from Bugiri.
Muhammad Mugoya, an eyewitness, said the plane lost altitude as it flew over Bugiri town.
He said he feared it was going to crash into the hospital buildings.
James Isabirye, a bicycle repairer, saw the helicopter spin before hitting the tree near the maternity ward. Nsibambi and his team were flying to Kampala after receiving relief items from the Kenyan government at Lwakhakha, on the Ugandan-Kenyan border.
The items were meant for the victims of the landslide in Bududa.
Information minister Masiko Kabakumba said the plane is new, having been acquired in 2008 and was well-maintained.
She said the pilot is one of the most experienced, with 30 years of flying helicopters. She urged the public not to speculate over the accident but await the probe findings.
The Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said an investigation would be launched into the cause of the fault.
Uganda has seen several plane accidents in the recent past.
In November, four people, including the director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Moses Mapesa, survived after their plane crashed shortly after take-off in Adjumani district.
The pilot attributed the accident to grass that was entangled in the plane’s flaps.
On November 24, the president of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, had a plane mishap when the tyre of the plane burst on the runway in Gulu.
His predecessor, John Garang, was killed in a helicopter crash on his way back to his base in Southern Sudan in July 2005.