The promotion marks a milestone for the national carrier, although Nasirumbi is not the first Ugandan woman to become an aircraft captain.
Uganda Airlines has promoted Rita Nasirumbi to captain, making her the first woman to hold the position at the national carrier since it resumed operations in 2019.
The airline announced the promotion on Tuesday, October 13, saying Nasirumbi had earned her fourth stripe, the insignia commonly used to identify an airline captain.
Nasirumbi joined Uganda Airlines in 2019 as the carrier prepared to resume commercial flights. She was among the pilots introduced during the airline’s relaunch and previously served as a first officer on its CRJ900 regional aircraft.
Her promotion qualifies her to serve as pilot-in-command, the position with overall authority and responsibility for the operation of an aircraft during a flight.
In a post on X, Uganda Airlines described the appointment as a milestone for the carrier and an example for women seeking careers in aviation.
“Today, we celebrated Captain Rita Nasirumbi, who made history as Uganda’s and Uganda Airlines’ first female captain. A proud moment for the Airline and an inspiring reminder of what women can achieve. Congratulations, Captain Rita!! May your journey continue to inspire many more women to take the skies,” the airline said.
A milestone for the national carrier
Nasirumbi’s promotion adds to the visibility of women in Uganda’s commercial aviation sector, where women remain underrepresented in cockpit roles.
She joined the airline alongside other female pilots, including Vanita Kayiwa and Tina Drazu, during the period when Uganda was rebuilding its national carrier.
Uganda Airlines resumed commercial operations in August 2019, following the revival of the state-owned airline that had ceased operations in 2001. The revived carrier began with regional services before expanding its network.
Nasirumbi’s achievement is specific to Uganda Airlines. Kayiwa had previously become a captain at Air Serv Limited, where she was recognised as the first Ugandan woman to attain that rank in the company’s history.
The promotion places Nasirumbi in a senior cockpit role as Uganda Airlines continues its regional and international operations. The airline said it hoped her achievement would encourage more women to pursue careers in aviation.
