Uganda Airlines has promoted Rita Nasirumbi to captain, making her the first woman to occupy the position at the national carrier since it resumed operations in 2019.
The airline announced her promotion on Tuesday after she earned her fourth stripe, a symbol of a captain's rank in commercial aviation.
The appointment places Nasirumbi in command of the airline's Mitsubishi CRJ900 aircraft, marking a major milestone in her aviation career.
“Today, we celebrated Captain Rita Nasirumbi, who made history as Uganda's and Uganda Airlines’ first female captain,” the airline said.
Nasirumbi joined Uganda Airlines in April 2019 as a first officer, becoming one of the few women recruited to fly the national carrier's aircraft.
She was among the pilots presented to the public when Uganda received its first two Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft at Entebbe International Airport on April 23, 2019.
At the time, she appeared alongside fellow female pilots Vanita Kayiwa and Tina Drazu as Uganda prepared to restore its national airline after nearly two decades without one.
Her latest promotion means she can now serve as pilot-in-command, the person who carries final responsibility for an aircraft and everyone aboard.
Although both the captain and first officer are qualified to operate an aircraft, the captain has the final say on decisions affecting a flight.
These include assessing weather conditions, supervising the crew, handling emergencies and deciding whether a flight should proceed, divert to another airport or return to its departure point.
A captain must also ensure that the aircraft operates within aviation safety regulations.
In commercial aviation, pilots normally start as first officers before qualifying for promotion to captain after gaining the required experience, completing training and passing assessments.
Nasirumbi's promotion marks another step in the growth of Uganda Airlines, which resumed commercial flights in August 2019.
The airline operates regional and international services using CRJ900 aircraft and larger Airbus A330 jets.
Her achievement also highlights the growing role of women in Uganda's aviation industry, where men have traditionally dominated cockpit positions.
However, Nasirumbi is not the first Ugandan woman to become an aircraft captain. Fellow pilot Vanita Kayiwa previously attained the rank at Air Serv Limited before joining Uganda Airlines.
Uganda Airlines described Nasirumbi's promotion as an inspiration to young women interested in aviation careers, particularly those hoping to become commercial pilots.
