Chopper crash ends Karungi’s life, her passion for military
A farewell service for the UPDF Maj Naomi Karungi who perished in a chopper crash at Church of the Resurrection Bugolobi, Kampala on January 30, 2020.In attendance was the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi and commander Air Forces, among other high ranking UPDF officials. Photo by Lubowa Abubaker
What you need to know:
- After her death, the social media was abuzz with condolence messages from her friends and relatives.
The army yesterday said it had instituted a team to investigate the plane crash that killed Maj Naome Karungi and her co-pilot, Cadet Pilot Benon Wakalo, on Tuesday.
“We started investigations and we will continue to establish the cause of the crash. Right now, our officers are doing their best to find out [the cause],” the army spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, told Daily Monitor yesterday.
The Jet Ranger AF302 came down at around 12pm in Butambala District as the two soldiers flew back to Entebbe from Mubende District where they had gone for an air force training exercise.
Karungi was supervising Wakalo who hoped to rise through the ranks and probably become a captain like her.
Karungi was born in December 1978 in Akajumbura, Nyakahita in Kiruhura District while Wakalo was from Manafa District. Karungi attended Kasambya Primary School in Lyantonde, before joining Kinoni Girls Secondary School in Mbarara District, now Rwampara.
She joined Makerere University in 1999 where she did a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and graduated in 2002. She briefly worked with Kampala City Council, now Kampala Capital City Authority.
Karungi later joined the army in 2004. After the military training, she passed the aptitude tests to qualify for a course at Soroti Flying School. The interview was conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority on behalf of the air force.
In 2005, Karungi went to Soroti Flying School where she acquired a Pilot Private Licence. With this qualification, she could fly planes with fixed wings.
But when she went to the airbase, she opted to fly jet rangers, the work she had done until Tuesday. Her friends and workmates described her as a “brilliant” woman who was very strong and full of passion when it came to work.
“She gave her life to the military. She was full of passion and compromised her social life to serve the military,” said an air force flight engineer who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to talk to the media.
Sources say she had accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours, a reason she was promoted to captain in 2018. Karungi was supposed to go the US for an instructors’ course so as to be able to train other pilots.
Brig Karemire said they were working out burial arrangements for the deceased. “There is no clear programme as yet but we are in touch with the families of the deceased and from that, we shall come up with necessary arrangements,” he said.
But a close family friend said there will be prayers for Karungi at Resurrection of Jesus Church in Bugolobi. For Wakalo, there were no details about his burial arrangements.
TRIBUTES
After her death, the social media was abuzz with condolence messages from her friends and relatives.
“Maj Naome Karungi! Your death was too painful but I was quickly reminded of your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour. Therefore, I have no slightest shadow of doubt in my mind where your life is right now. Heaven received you yesterday [Tuesday] and the angels are singing songs of victory and the crown which had been awaiting you has been placed on your head by the Lord himself. Rest in eternity. You will be missed so much little sister,” Kusasira Kwaruhanga wrote on Facebook yesterday.
Mr Herbert Odankie Mucunguzi also posted: “Every life is precious. You find yourself mourning someone you have never met. This helicopter crash has seriously pained me. May their souls rest in eternal peace. We pray the families get comfort from the Almighty.”
