Naomi Karungi

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Naomi Karungi
BornTemplate:Birth date
Ntungamo District, Uganda
DiedTemplate:Death date and age
Bulo, Uganda
EducationEast African Civil Aviation Academy (Commercial Pilot Licence)
Alma materMakerere University (Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Social Work)
Years active2003Template:Ndash2020
Template:Infobox military person

Naomi Karungi (1 December 1978 – 28 January 2020) was a Ugandan helicopter pilot who, at the time of her death, was the Squadron Commander of Augusta Bell Helicopters in the UPDF Air Force.[1][2][3]

Background and education[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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]

Through her entire career of 15 years (2005–2020) with the UPDF Air Force, she flew transport helicopters. 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Muhoozi Eulogises, Major Karungi Flown Home For Burial.  (31 January 2020)  Retrieved 1 February 2020 from link
  2. ↑ Two dead after UPDF helicopter crashes in Gomba.  (28 January 2020)  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Two dead as army jet ranger crashes.  (28 January 2020)  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fallen UPDF Pilot: Who Was Maj. Naomi Karungi?.  (28 January 2020)  The Tower Post.  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 More details about two UPDF officers killed in chopper crash.  (29 January 2020)  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
  6. ↑ Chopper crash ends Karungi's life, her passion for military.  (30 January 2020)  Retrieved 30 January 2020 from link
  7. ↑ Female UPDF Pilot Shares Her 14-Year Journey.  (7 March 2019)  Youtube.com.  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Military investigating Jet Ranger crash as reports indicate female pilot Maj. Karungi is killed.  (28 January 2020)  PML Daily Uganda.  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
  9. ↑ UPDF Mourns Crashed Jet Pilots Maj Karungi, Cadet Wakalu.  (31 January 2020)  Kampala Post.  Retrieved 1 February 2020 from link
  10. ↑ Update: Female Pilot Major Naome Karungi Dies In UPDF Chopper Crash.  (28 January 2020)  ChimpReports Uganda.  Retrieved 29 January 2020 from link
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