The incident cropped up as Mi-17 helicopter, which is mainly used for transportation, medical evacuation and VIP travel, had just delivered food consignment to the Uganda People’s Defense Forces troops engaged in Operation Shujaa.

According to Army spokesman Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ordered a board of inquiry into the crash. Uganda Air Force Deputy Commander Charles Okidi will lead the inquiry.

Senior security sources said the tail rotor, which was technically on a flight monitored by a captain, hit a tree, causing it to spin out of control before crashing into Ugandan troops.

This accident swells the list of Ugandan military aircraft incidents in recent years.

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