The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of female aviation professionals, with Deputy Director General Olive Birungi Lumonya calling on young girls to break barriers and seize opportunities in the aviation industry.
She was speaking during the second edition of Girls in Aviation Day at UCAA headquarters in Entebbe, organised in partnership with AirServ and African Leaders in Aviation. The event brought together girls from leading schools such as Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga, Gayaza High School, Merryland International and Hope Senior School, giving them an exclusive chance to interact with aviation experts and explore the many dimensions of the sector.
Lumonya told participants that aviation is not limited to piloting aircraft. “The industry is vast,” she explained, highlighting career paths in air traffic management, engineering, airport operations, ground handling, drone technology, wildlife management, rescue and firefighting services. She encouraged the girls to ask questions, stay ambitious and keep their eyes on opportunities that will shape the future of air transport.
Figures presented during the event showed that 32 per cent of UCAA’s workforce is female, a statistic Lumonya said is encouraging but must continue to improve through deliberate mentoring, scholarships and inclusivity programmes. She added that UCAA’s initiatives are aligned with the global ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) framework, which promotes youth participation and gender equity in the industry.
The event featured career guidance panels, inspirational talks, and interactive tours of airport facilities, including an up-close look at Uganda Airlines operations. According to organisers, these hands-on experiences were designed to give participants both knowledge and confidence to pursue careers in the field.
Many of the students described the day as eye-opening, noting that it demystified aviation and allowed them to see a future in spaces they had never imagined possible. Local leaders and educators in attendance praised UCAA for championing an initiative that could change the face of the industry in Uganda by building a pipeline of skilled, confident young women.
With initiatives such as Girls in Aviation Day, UCAA is not only promoting gender balance but also laying the groundwork for sustainable growth in Uganda’s aviation sector. For Lumonya, the message to the girls was simple: dream big, aim high, and never accept limits to what you can achieve.