Naomi Karungi
{{Short description|Ugandan military helicopter pilot (1978-2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Naomi Karungi
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1978|12|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ntungamo District, Uganda
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|01|28|1978|12|17|df=y}}
| death_place = Bulo, Uganda
| alma_mater = Makerere University (Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Social Work)
| education = East African Civil Aviation Academy (Commercial Pilot Licence)
| years_active = 2003{{ndash}}2020
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{air force|Uganda}}
| rank = Major
| commands = Squadron Commander of Augusta Bell Helicopters
}}
}}
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.{{cite web| work=The Edge Uganda |date=31 January 2020 | url=https://edge.ug/2020/01/31/muhoozi-eulogises-maj-karungi-flown-home-for-burial/ | title=Muhoozi Eulogises, Major Karungi Flown Home For Burial |access-date=1 February 2020 |author=The Edge Uganda |location=Kampala}}{{cite web| title=Two dead after UPDF helicopter crashes in Gomba |work=The Independent (Uganda) |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=29 January 2020 |location=Kampala | url=https://www.independent.co.ug/two-dead-after-updf-helicopter-crashes-in-gomba/ | author=The Independent}}{{cite web| title=Two dead as army jet ranger crashes | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Two-dead-as-army-jet-crashes/688334-5434868-vcis8wz/index.html |date=28 January 2020 |work=Daily Monitor |access-date=29 January 2020 |author=Daily Monitor |location=Kampala}}
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.{{cite web|publisher=The Tower Post | url=https://thetowerpost.com/2020/01/28/fallen-updf-pilot-who-was-maj-naomi-karungi/ |title=Fallen UPDF Pilot: Who Was Maj. Naomi Karungi? |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=29 January 2020 |author=Moses Kayigwa |location=Kampala}} Karungi was scheduled to travel to the United States later in 2020, to train as a helicopter flight instructor.{{cite web| url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/More-details-about-two-UPDF-officers-killed-chopper-crash/688334-5436140-12cdltjz/index.html |title=More details about two UPDF officers killed in chopper crash |newspaper=Daily Monitor |date=29 January 2020 |access-date=29 January 2020 |author=Risdel Kasasira, Sadat Mbogo and Kelvin Atuhaire |place=Kampala}}{{cite web|newspaper=Daily Monitor | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/What-you-didn-t-know-about-Maj-Naome-Karungi/688334-5437498-4dssb4z/index.html | title=Chopper crash ends Karungi's life, her passion for military
|date=30 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020 |author=Risdel Kasasira and Arthur Arnold Wadero |place=Kampala}}
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.{{cite web|publisher=Youtube.com | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9MTc_PA99Q | title=Female UPDF Pilot Shares Her 14-Year Journey |date=7 March 2019 |access-date=29 January 2020 |author=Nation Television Uganda (NTV Uganda) |place=Kampala | format=Video}}
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.{{cite web| publisher=PML Daily Uganda |date=28 January 2020 |place=Kampala | url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/01/updf-jet-ranger-crashes-as-reports-indicate-female-pilot-maj-karungi-is-killed.html |title=Military investigating Jet Ranger crash as reports indicate female pilot Maj. Karungi is killed |access-date=29 January 2020 |author=Javira Ssebwami}}
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.{{cite web|publisher=Kampala Post | url=https://kampalapost.com/index.php/content/updf-mourns-crashed-jet-pilots-maj-karungi-cadet-wakalu |title=UPDF Mourns Crashed Jet Pilots Maj Karungi, Cadet Wakalu |date=31 January 2020 |access-date=1 February 2020 |author=Kampala Post}}
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.{{cite web|publisher=ChimpReports Uganda |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=29 January 2020 | url=https://chimpreports.com/update-female-pilot-maj-naome-karungi-dies-in-updf-chopper-crash/ |title=Update: Female Pilot Major Naome Karungi Dies In UPDF Chopper Crash |author=Arafat Nzito | location=Kampala}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Butambala/@0.09209,31.9529928,11z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x177d691e0e4d7585:0x629ab0a6cc36e034!8m2!3d0.17425!4d32.1064668 Map of Butambala District, Showing Location of Bulo]
- [https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Two-killed-in-Uganda-military-plane-crash/4552908-5435144-nqv0f/index.html Two Killed In Uganda Military Plane Crash]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Karungi, Naomi}}
Category:East African Civil Aviation Academy alumni
Category:Makerere University alumni
Category:People from Ntungamo District
Category:Ugandan military personnel
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Uganda