SA woman killed in Uganda was on honeymoon with British husband

The South African woman who was killed in an attack yesterday at Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda, was on honeymoon with her husband.

The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, said the “most unfortunate and infuriating” incident – in which the South African, her husband, and their driver were killed, and their vehicle set alight – took place at around 18h00 by a “small group of terrorists running away from our operations in the Congo”.

He declared that the terrorists will be hunted down and “will pay with their own wretched lives” but added that killing them “will not bring back the lives of these wonderful friends of Uganda who had chosen our country for their honeymoon out of the 193 Countries of the world.”

The President said that Uganda’s High Commission in the UK “will reach out to their families and provide whatever support is necessary in this tragic situation.”

SA expat Leslie Rabie said on SApeople’s Facebook page that “as a south African living in Uganda for the past 11 years. I consider Uganda my home. We are truly saddened and shocked by what happened. Our condolences to the family and friends.

Just days ago the Ugandan President had warned the public to be on the lookout for terrorists running away from the Congo were some had been killed and asked people to report strangers to the police, and “even relatives that have been away for a long time and suddenly return. They may be part of the terrorists.”

He said yesterday’s attack was “a cowardly act on the part of the terrorists attacking innocent civilians and tragic for the couple who were newlyweds and visiting Uganda on their honeymoon.”

The President has vowed that this will never happen again and that ADF is “wiped out”. A church bombing was thwarted, but with the safari attack some mistakes had been made. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) was guarding tourists once they were in the Park. “However, apparently, the tourists were arriving and departing individually. It is this gap that they used,” said the President.

The UK’s Minister of State (Development & Africa) has said he is “shocked and saddened by the horrific attack”, and the UK Embassy has recommended that “following the attacks in Queen Elizabeth National Park the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Please review the most recent FCDO travel advice.”

Meanwhile the UWA has posted a video reassuring travellers that measures have been put in place to guarantee the park is safe, and encouraging people to visit.

The attackers are still on the run.