A young inventor from Kamuli District in Uganda has survived a crash after a homemade flying machine he built went down during a test flight in Kasambira.
The inventor, identified as Matege, sustained a broken arm and facial injuries after his experimental aircraft reportedly lost control and crashed into thick bushes.
In a video recorded after the incident, Matege recounted the events leading to the crash while showing the damaged machine.
Dubbed Choper Fighter Jet 136 Matege UG, the aircraft has a green metallic body, an enclosed cockpit, a steering wheel, motorcycle wheels and a rotor mounted on its upper section.
The invention had earlier drawn public attention after Matege demonstrated that it could fly, with interest in his effort to build an aircraft from locally available materials.
According to Matege, he was conducting another test flight when the machine developed problems and veered out of control before crashing into vegetation. He was inside the cockpit at the time and escaped with injuries.
Images shared after the incident show the aircraft lying on its side in thick bushes, with its body visibly damaged and the cockpit door open.
Matege said he was grateful to have survived and intends to continue pursuing his engineering ambitions. He said the project was born out of personal passion and a desire to explore his abilities as an inventor, and he appealed to well-wishers, leaders and people with technical expertise to support him with materials and professional guidance.
He reportedly hopes to repair the machine and fix the technical problems that may have contributed to the crash.
His invention has drawn mixed reactions. Some people have praised his creativity and determination, while others have expressed concern about the dangers of testing homemade aircraft without aviation expertise.
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