Monday, August 27, 2012

Weather didn’t cause crash, says Museveni


Weather didn’t cause crash, says Museveni

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Uganda President Yoweri Museveni
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. PHOTO/ FILE  Nation Media Group
By ISAAC IMAKA iimaka@ug.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, August 26  2012 at  20:30
IN SUMMARY
  • President Museveni also said he is “disappointed” with the army leadership over the incidents that led to the crash of three Ugandan MI-24 helicopters in Kenya two weeks ago.
  • This is the first time that the President is speaking about the crash that happened on August 11 near Mt Kenya. 
  • Mr Museveni adds that he is disappointed that some of the actors “we have delegated authority over the Army as per the Constitution, once in a while, act negligently or high-handedly resulting in unnecessary losses.”
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has ruled out bad weather as the cause of helicopter crashes that killed seven of the country’s soldiers in Kenya, contradicting initial reports by his army.
President Museveni also said he is “disappointed” with the army leadership over the incidents that led to the crash of three Ugandan MI-24 helicopters in Kenya two weeks ago.
“Up to now, I have nothing to say about this tragedy because I am indignant and disappointed,” read the opening line of President Museveni’s condolence letter to the bereaved families.
This is the first time that the President is speaking about the crash that happened on August 11 near Mt Kenya. 
Mr Museveni adds that he is disappointed that some of the actors “we have delegated authority over the Army as per the Constitution, once in a while, act negligently or high-handedly resulting in unnecessary losses.”
The President in his condolence letter to the families says although he is eagerly waiting for the report by a team investigating the crashes, he does not believe the mountains caused the crash as they are clearly shown on maps.
“We never fly over mountains with helicopters, especially the combat ones... Weather can also not be accepted as a serious factor. If the weather is bad, you do not fly,” he writes.
Army’s opinion
The helicopter leading the formation was equipped with weather radar and would have warned the formation so that they could not return to the Nanyuki Air Force base, he notes.
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The army leadership have blamed the crash on bad weather, arguing that the helicopters were airworthy and the pilots tested over time in several operations.
They also ruled out the change in flight route saying it was well planned and approved by both the Kenya and Uganda military.

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