Departed pilot’s son: Our father didn’t want us in aviation

Bukoba/Mwanza. Pilot Pilot Buruhani Rubaga is among the 19 people who died in the Precision 5H-PWF, ATR 42-500 plane crash that occurred on November 6, this year, in Kagera Region, with many wondering how he failed to save himself when the rescue forces arrived.
That question was answered by David Rubaga, the firstborn of the seven children of the late Buruhani, during an exclusive interview with The Citizeni at their home in Kanyigo, Misenyi District, Kagera Region.
“After getting the sad news about the crash of the plane he was flying, I knew my father would not get out of the plane even if he had to die before all the passengers got out,” said Mr David.
He said his belief was based on how his late father loved, respected, and observed the ethics of his work and profession.
“My dad respected his job and valued his passengers. He was not ready to be part of obstructing his work,” said David.
Despite having a passion for his job and profession, Mr David said his deceased father prevented him and his siblings from becoming pilots, although they craved for the job. He said their father told them to take up other jobs that would allow them to be close to their families.
“He used to say that if you become a pilot, you will be a pilot until the end. But if you have another chance, you can be different; but the main thing was the matter of staying close to the family because, when you are a pilot, you don’t spend a lot of time with your family—you don’t have holidays, you don’t have weekends... so he was asking us if we could do something different,” said Mr David.
He said their father advised them to get education and knowledge of other professions, and that those interested in becoming pilots could do so as an added profession.
Speaking about the issue of family and social relations, Mr David said his late father was loving and cared for the  family and his community with all his strength and ability.
“The deceased stood firm on the whole issue of family and love for everyone; that love is what caused many people to attend his funeral,” he said.
He said that besides helping the community in all matters of life and faith, including the construction of a mosque in his village, the late Buruhani also supported football teams and the construction of madrasas with the aim of raising children in good faith.
“Dad hated laziness, he used to urge us to wake up early and work hard while insisting on solidarity and love among us and society in general,” said Mr David, expressing that his father’s sudden death is a big blow to the family and community in general.
Mr Abdallah Miraji, one of Mr Rubaga’s neighbors, said the bereaved family and the Kanyigo community have lost a sincere, responsible, justice-abiding, and honest person who stood for the development of all people without discrimination.
“For almost 12 years of being close to his family, I have known Buruhani as a man of strong principles on basic issues. He was not a person to entertain nonsense from the family to community levels,” said Mr Miraji.
“Captain Buruhani loved his work more than anything else to such an extent that what happened on the day of the plane crash by remaining in the cockpit until he met his death is a clear testimony about his faith,” he said