DEAD SOLDIERS’ LIST SWELLS TO THREE, FOUR STILL MISSING

The number of UPDF soldiers belived to have persished in the chopper crash on Sunday yesterday swell to three.

Defense state minister Gen. Jeje Odongo told the defense and internal affairs committee of parliament that the ministry is also still unable to reveal the whereabouts of four more soldiers.

“A subsequent search has landed us on another dead soldier after that of yesterday where we found two. The number of dead soldiers is now three. They include Capt. William, Lt. Nahamya Patrick and 2nd Lt. Richard Mushabe. These three comrades are confirmed dead. 21 comrades are alive and well” he stated.

He said that the total number dispatched was 28. Of these, 21 are alive including officers like John Nyanzi, Ashaf Barigye, Omaria Patrick, Job Osule, Gideon Taremwa, Exerist Sebagenzi, Kwesigye Nicson, Chrales Okid, among others.

The committee tasked the minister togehrter with his commander land forces Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala to reveal the names of the missing soldiers but they declined.


“we are unable to tell you about the four because we are still searching. We don’t know wwhteher they are dead or alive. Even when they are dead, the first person to know is the next of kin” Gen. Odongo stated.

Odongo said that the president had named a seven man probe committee to carry out investigations. The committee is headed by Salim Saleh and includes members like Col. Ramathan Kyamulesire, Col. Lutaaya, Maj. Gen. Fred Musgisha. He said the remaining three people to sit on it will be named by CDF Gen. Aronda Nyakairima. He said the Saleh team was given a month to cause a report.

“So far, what we know from survivors indicate that bad weather was the cause of this incident but this inquiry will find out any matter relating to this accident” he said.

The committee was informed that while the mi 17 chopper managed to reach Garrisa, it was lighter than the mi 24 combat choppers. He said the former is a transport chopper not a combat chopper. The mi are heavier and cant fly higher distances compared to mi 17.

The committee was however, furious with the ministry for always sitting on probe reports. The first report they sited was that of late. John Garang and that of an air craft that caught fire on transit to Somalia.

The same minister was tight lipped on the exact losses the country incurred in this accident. The committee chaired by Milton Muwuma wanted to know the cost of each chopper fully loaded with combat ammunition.

“The question of whether AU and UN will take responsibility is still under study. According to the documents we signed with UN and AU, they take responsibility when (the asset is) in mission area (Somalia). But we are studying the documents to see if there is a way they can pay” he stated leaving MPs in murmurs!