Belgian Tourist Dies In Mweya National Park

A Belgian tourist has died in Queen Elizabeth National Park sparking an investigation by the police.

Jean-Michel Albert Hausman, 56, died on Thursday afternoon around Kasenyi landing site according to Kasese CID chief Peter Tindyebwa.

According to reports Hausman died from an alleged accident when his motorised paragliding kite failed in strong wind and crashed to the ground.

Police suspect the kite failed due to strong winds or user error, but they are investigating reports that the deceased was not licensed to operate a paraglider in the national park.

Hausman was traveling around the country together with three other colleagues.

According to the Police they visited Bwindi game park for two days from October 27th before moving to Queen Elizabeth National Park where the accident happened.

Sebastien Hobven a colleague of the deceased said Hausman made an error while paragliding and the team watched him fall from the sky and crash to the ground.

Hobven said they had been paragliding around all the national parks in Uganda and had alot of experience in their sport.

‘It pains to see one of us gone like that.’ Hausman (passport page pictured below) is survived by a wife and two kids who are back in Belgium.

Uganda Wildlife Authority official Simplicious Gesa said the Belgians are known to the authority but had not yet secured a permit to paraglide and film in the national park.

“The deceased and his friends wanted access to film while paragliding in the park but they had not been cleared to do that. They were supposed to pay and get clearance before paragliding or filming. Its sad when we heard that one of them had died.’

WHAT IS PARAGLIDING?

According to wikipedia: Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring or PPG, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a motor on their back (a paramotor) which provides enough thrust to take off using a paraglider. It can be launched in still air, and on level ground, by the pilot alone — no assistance is required.

In many countries powered paragliding is minimally regulated and requires no license. The ability to fly both low and slow safely, the ‘open’ feel, the minimal equipment and maintenance costs, and the portability are claimed to be this type of flying’s greatest merits.

Staff Writer