Naomi Karungi

Naomi Karungi 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.

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. Karungi was scheduled to travel to the United States later in 2020, to train as a helicopter flight instructor.

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.
Through her entire career of 15 years with the UPDF Air Force, she flew transport helicopters. In 2015, she piloted President Yoweri Museveni from his country home in Rwakitura to Entebbe.
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.

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.