Fresh details have emerged regarding the repatriation of a Ugandan pilot who survived an attack in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the local newspaper, The Daily Monitor, Captain Patrick Drate, a Ugandan national, was one of the two pilots on board an aircraft flying from Uganda to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province in eastern DRC.
The pilots came under fire from unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening. Tragically, his co-pilot, a Sudanese national identified as Captain Tariq, did not survive the attack.
Following the incident, Capt Drate was urgently repatriated to Kigali, Rwanda, where he is currently receiving medical treatment at King Faisal Hospital, a premier referral facility in Rwanda’s capital.
The hospital, established between 1987 and 1991 with funding from the Saudi Fund for Development, is known for offering specialized medical care.
It remains unclear why Capt Drate was transported to Rwanda instead of Uganda or who facilitated his repatriation.
However, sources indicate that members of his immediate family flew to Kigali overnight to support his recovery.
The attack, which claimed the life of Capt Tariq, took place shortly after the aircraft landed in Bukavu. While initial reports suggested that the pilots were transporting International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff, new information has surfaced indicating that they were actually delivering a consignment of supplies.
The recipient of the consignment remains unknown.
The volatile eastern region of DRC is home to numerous militia groups, including the M23 rebels, who have intensified their operations in recent months.
In February, the rebels advanced into Bukavu after taking control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province.
The continued instability in the region has heightened concerns about the safety of aviation and humanitarian operations.
Uganda’s Foreign Affairs State Minister, Henry Oryem Okello, stated that he was yet to receive official details of the attack.
Meanwhile, ICRC representatives in Kampala clarified that their organization was not involved in the incident and had no engagement with Ocean Heights Aviation Training Centre, where the pilots were employed.
In response to speculation regarding the pilots’ affiliation with the Ugandan military, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Military Assistant, Chris Magezi, refuted the claims.
“UPDF refutes claims that two allegedly abducted pilots were part of our forces. We confirm they were civilian pilots. Nonetheless, UPDF stands ready to assist in the rescue efforts to ensure their safe return,” he stated.
As Capt Drate undergoes treatment, investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the attack, with authorities working to establish the identities and motives of the gunmen responsible.
The repatriation of the Ugandan pilot underscores the ongoing security risks faced by aviation personnel operating in the conflict-prone eastern DRC.
