Finer details have emerged regarding the helicopter crash involving Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. On Saturday, Tayebwa attended President Museveni’s commissioning of the newly constructed Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua 132kv power line, which connects the West Nile sub-region to the national grid.
Following the commissioning, Tayebwa rushed to Bushenyi for the giveaway ceremony (Kuhingira) of Edith Ainomugisha and Albert Bagabe. Ainomugisha is the daughter of Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, and Annet Katusiime Mugisha, the Woman MP for Bushenyi.
Due to the late conclusion of the event, Tayebwa’s convoy hurried to Nyakisharara airfield for a chopper flight back to Kampala. However, upon arrival, the team was informed that the chopper could not fly at night due to a lack of night vision capabilities.
“They were advised to sleep in Mbarara and take off the next morning,” a source informed Nile Post.
Another source revealed that although Tayebwa’s team initially agreed to stay in Mbarara, they were persuaded by BAR’s CEO Barak Orland that he could safely fly them to Kampala despite it being nighttime. The team boarded another chopper, but soon after, fire was seen coming from the cockpit, causing panic among the passengers.
The pilot made an emergency landing, and Tayebwa’s security team quickly rescued the deputy speaker and the other passengers. According to sources, all individuals on board are currently fine, with only minor injuries reported. The fire was attributed to a technical glitch in the chopper.
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