Major Naomi Karungi | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 1, 1978 Ntungamo District, Uganda |
| Died |
January 28, 2020 (aged 41) Bulo, Uganda |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Education |
Makerere University (Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Social Work) East African Civil Aviation Academy (Commercial Pilot Licence) |
Major Naomi Karungi (1 December 1978 – 28 January 2020) was a Ugandan helicopter pilot who, at the time of her death, served as the Squadron Commander of Augusta Bell Squadron in the UPDF Air Force.[1][2][3]
Background and education[]
She was born in Ntungamo District, in the Western Region of Uganda. She attended local primary and secondary schools. She studied at Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Economics. She was then admitted to the East African Civil Aviation Academy, graduating with a Commercial Pilot Licence, after three years of instruction.[4] Karungi was scheduled to travel to the United States later in 2020, to train as a helicopter flight instructor.[5][6]
Career[]
Around 2002, Naomi joined the UPDF Air Force before she obtained her pilot licence. Upon qualification as a pilot, she was posted to Entebbe Air Force Base. She selected to fly helicopters, as opposed to fixed wing aircraft, according to her video testimony in 2019. She was encouraged to specialize in helicopters by the UPDF Air Force commanders at the time.[3][5][7]
She flew transport helicopters in the UPDF Air Force, her entire career of 15 years (2005–2020).In 2015, she piloted President Yoweri Museveni from his country home in Rwakitura to Entebbe.[4][8]
She was the most experienced female helicopter pilot in the UPDF Air Force at the time of her death. At the rank of Major she was the Commander of the Bell Helicopter Squadron in the UPDF Air Force.[9]
Death[]
On the morning of 28 January 2020, a UPDF Air Force Bell Jetranger helicopter registration number AF-302, en-route from Kalama Armoured Warfare Training School to Entebbe Air Force Base carrying Major Karungi and Lieutenant Benon Wakalo, a cadet pilot, crashed into Ndese Hill, near Bulo, in Butambala District, during a tropical thunderstorm. Both flight crew died at the scene. They were on their way from Kabamba on a joint training exercise for air defense forces. The exercise had been cancelled due to bad weather.[5][8][10]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ The Edge (31 January 2020). "Muhoozi Eulogises, Major Karungi Flown Home For Burial". The Edge Uganda. https://edge.ug/2020/01/31/muhoozi-eulogises-maj-karungi-flown-home-for-burial/.
- ↑ The Independent (28 January 2020). "Two dead after UPDF helicopter crashes in Gomba". https://www.independent.co.ug/two-dead-after-updf-helicopter-crashes-in-gomba/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Daily Monitor (28 January 2020). "Two dead as army jet ranger crashes". https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Two-dead-as-army-jet-crashes/688334-5434868-vcis8wz/index.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Moses Kayigwa (28 January 2020). "Fallen UPDF Pilot: Who Was Maj. Naomi Karungi?". Kampala: The Tower Post. https://thetowerpost.com/2020/01/28/fallen-updf-pilot-who-was-maj-naomi-karungi/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Risdel Kasasira, Sadat Mbogo and Kelvin Atuhaire (29 January 2020). "More details about two UPDF officers killed in chopper crash". https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/More-details-about-two-UPDF-officers-killed-chopper-crash/688334-5436140-12cdltjz/index.html.
- ↑ Risdel Kasasira and Arthur Arnold Wadero (30 January 2020). "Chopper crash ends Karungi’s life, her passion for military". https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/What-you-didn-t-know-about-Maj-Naome-Karungi/688334-5437498-4dssb4z/index.html.
- ↑ Nation Television Uganda (NTV Uganda) (7 March 2019). "Female UPDF Pilot Shares Her 14-Year Journey" (Video). Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9MTc_PA99Q.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Javira Ssebwami (28 January 2020). "Military investigating Jet Ranger crash as reports indicate female pilot Maj. Karungi is killed". PML Daily Uganda. https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/01/updf-jet-ranger-crashes-as-reports-indicate-female-pilot-maj-karungi-is-killed.html.
- ↑ Kampala Post (31 January 2020). "UPDF Mourns Crashed Jet Pilots Maj Karungi, Cadet Wakalu". Kampala Post. https://kampalapost.com/index.php/content/updf-mourns-crashed-jet-pilots-maj-karungi-cadet-wakalu.
- ↑ Arafat Nzito (28 January 2020). "Update: Female Pilot Major Naome Karungi Dies In UPDF Chopper Crash". Kampala: ChimpReports Uganda. https://chimpreports.com/update-female-pilot-maj-naome-karungi-dies-in-updf-chopper-crash/.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Naomi Karungi and the edit history here.