Girls Celebrate Aviation Day at UCAA in Entebbe

Girls joined the staff at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) to celebrate the Aviation Day in a colourful event at Entebbe.

The event was officially opened by our Ag. Director General, Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya who is also the Vice-Chairperson of African Women in Aviation Association under Afcac_Cafac

Speaking at the opening, Ms. Lumonya reaffirmed UCAA’s commitment, noting: “We are intentional about supporting programmes that attract, educate, and empower young people, especially girls, to pursue their dreams in aviation. With 32% of our workforce now female, we are determined to continue bridging the gender gap and creating opportunities for the next generation.”

The event has brought together passionate girls from schools across the country, including Mt. St. Mary;s College Namagunga, MerryLand International, Olea Primary School, St. Peters S.S, Hope Senior School, St. Mark High School, and Gayaza High School among others to learn, connect, and dream big. Later today, the Girls will tour a Uganda Airlines Airbus aircraft and visit various airport work stations to experience firsthand the different career paths aviation has to offer.

Here is the speech of Ag. Director General Ms Birungi Lumonya.

I warmly welcome you all to the second Girls in Aviation Day event. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is delighted to once again partner with AirServ and African Leaders in Aviation, for the second consecutive year, as we celebrate this important occasion, which is now becoming a tradition for us in the aviation industry as we continue to nurture and encourage female participation.

The Authority remains committed to advancing the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Programme, which was launched in 2009 and formalized by the 2016 ICAO Assembly resolution. The NGAP Programme focuses on attracting, educating, training, and retaining young professionals; promoting gender equality in aviation; and encouraging global collaboration through various programs, summits, and initiatives.

Events such as this are vital because they bring together young girls from across the country who are interested in aviation careers and serve as a source of inspiration. We are intentional about supporting this programme and creating platforms that encourage you—and many other young people—to pursue your dreams in aviation. I am glad that industry players like Airserv have come on board to take the lead.

To all participants here today, I encourage you to listen attentively, learn, and ask as many questions as possible to the facilitators. Your engagement will help you gain valuable knowledge about the opportunities available in the aviation industry and how to tap into them.

Aviation is broad and full of opportunities. UCAA has over the years recognized the significant contributions of women by highlighting the different roles they undertake in the aviation industry. The Authority has also enhanced efforts toward bridging the gender gap. Today, 32% of our employees are female, and we aim to continue building on this progress.

The aviation industry offers diverse career opportunities and is highly evolving. Current opportunities range from flying planes, ensuring the smooth operation of airports and airlines, flight operations, ground handling, and aircraft maintenance and engineering, to aviation management, finance, administration, rescue and firefighting, bird hazard and wildlife management, and beyond. You do not need to limit yourself to one path—this industry provides the space to explore a wide range of skills and interests.

The advent of technology in aviation has come with more opportunities, such as use of drones, and advanced air mobility systems, among others, which will all need young and vibrant minds like yours.

I would also like to remind you that entering a field where women are still the minority can be challenging. However, challenges also present opportunities. You may encounter people who doubt your abilities, but aviation thrives on determination and resilience—qualities you already possess.

I encourage you to take advantage of mentorship programs such as this one and seek out scholarships that specifically support young women in aviation. You could also join a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program, or connect with women already working in aviation.

These opportunities will provide the guidance you need to excel. The key is to remain persistent and, above all, believe in yourself.