PropertyValue
?:author
?:datePublished
  • 2022-10-18 (xsd:date)
?:headline
  • Video shows paratroopers crashing into a crowd in Honduras, not in Uganda (en)
?:inLanguage
?:itemReviewed
?:mentions
?:reviewBody
  • A TikTok video viewed thousands of times claims to show Ugandan paratroopers being blown off course during a ceremony to mark Independence Day on October 9, 2022. The claim is false; the drama was filmed in Honduras on September 15, 2022, weeks before events in Uganda. According to reports, strong winds played havoc with the Honduran special forces as they prepared to land in a stadium. A Kenyan Facebook page with more than 500,000 followers shared a TikTok video on October 12, 2022, showing at least three descending paratroopers losing control of their parachutes while attempting to land in a stadium filled with people. One of the skydivers crashes into the crowd, another tumbles into a row of mobile toilets while a third gets snagged on the stadium roof before dropping below into the seating area. Uganda’s paratroopers of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) perform badly during Independence celebrations ( sic ), reads the Facebook post, which has since been deleted but was archived here . A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 13, 2022 Similar claims were published on Twitter , TikTok and online in Nigeria (see here and here ). Uganda commemorated 60 years of independence from British rule on October 9, 2022. Celebrations took place at Kololo Independence Grounds in the capital Kampala. During the event, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) carried out drills, including a demonstration by the military's paratroopers. But the failed parachute landing did not happen in Uganda. Incident in Honduras A Google search of the keywords Paratroopers crashing in a stadium led to an article published by the DailyMail on October 13, 2022. The report said the incident happened in Honduras, a Spanish-speaking country in Central America. A further search with the Spanish keywords paracaidistas se estrellan en el estadio revealed a CNN report featuring a clip – but captured from a different angle – of Honduran special forces crash landing during the country’s 201st Independence Day celebrations on September 15, 2022. Spanish television channel Al Rojo Vivo also reported on the accident, which happened at the José de la Paz Herrera Uclés National Stadium in the capital Tegucigalpa. According to the reports, strong winds drove the parachutes off course. Comparisons of the two stadiums using footage from local media confirm the video circulated in the false posts was taken in Honduras and not in Uganda. Firstly, the Honduran stadium is larger and has bleachers encircling the field unlike the Ugandan Independence grounds, which are smaller and only have stands on one side of the field (see here and here ). Secondly, during the respective celebrations in both countries – which took place almost a month apart – more people attended in Honduras. The stands in Uganda were virtually empty. A screenshot showing Independence Day celebrations in Honduras (L) and Uganda (R) According to local reports , the Ugandan security minister had announced a limit of 800 guests due to Covid-19 regulations in the country, which is also battling an Ebola outbreak. Uganda’s military spokesperson Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye asked the public to ignore the clip. Our attention has been drawn to a video doing rounds on social media purportedly to be a video of UPDF paratroopers that performed a tremendous job on Independence Day... A keen eye will see that the Parachutes are not the ones that were used at Kololo ceremonial grounds, he tweeted . Kulayigye added that ... such a crowd did not attend the Independence Celebration in Kololo due to Covid-19 restrictions & all our paratroopers had successful jumps. Our attention has been drawn to a video doing rounds on social media purportedly to be a video of UPDF paratroopers that performed a tremendous job on Independence Day. Therefore, ignore this video because it is fake. — Defence Spokesperson (@UPDFspokespersn) October 13, 2022 Live coverage showed all Ugandan paratroopers successfully making their jumps. While the clip was not from Uganda, Kenyans shared the video alongside the false claim to ridicule their neighbours following a social media tirade by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s son that included a threat to invade Kenya. The remarks posted on Twitter earlier this month by Museveni's 48-year-old son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, caused outrage in Kenya and angry calls for a formal explanation from Uganda. Museveni apologised . (en)
?:reviewRating
rdf:type
?:url