UCAA Marks Girls in Aviation Day, Calls for Greater Female Participation in the Industry

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has reaffirmed its commitment to inspiring more young women to pursue careers in aviation, as it hosted the second edition of ‘Girls in Aviation Day’ at its Entebbe headquarters on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Acting Director General Olive B. Lumonya said the initiative, organized in partnership with AirServ and African Leaders in Aviation, is steadily becoming a tradition aimed at nurturing female participation in a sector often viewed as male-dominated.

“The Authority remains committed to advancing the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Programme, which promotes attracting, training and retaining young professionals while encouraging gender equality,” Lumonya noted.

She said such platforms give young girls across the country an opportunity to interact with industry leaders and mentors, learn about diverse career opportunities, and be inspired to join aviation.

Currently, women make up 32% of UCAA’s workforce, a figure Lumonya said the Authority is determined to improve. “We have recognized the significant contributions of women and continue to enhance efforts toward bridging the gender gap,” she added.

The UCAA boss encouraged participants to actively engage with facilitators during the day’s mentorship sessions, stressing that aviation is a broad field offering careers ranging from piloting, airport management, ground handling and engineering, to finance, administration, firefighting, and wildlife management.

She further highlighted the growing influence of technology in aviation, citing opportunities in drone operations and advanced air mobility systems, which require “young and vibrant minds.”

Acknowledging the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry, Lumonya urged participants to remain resilient. “You may encounter people who doubt your abilities, but aviation thrives on determination and resilience qualities you already possess,” she said.

She also encouraged the girls to explore STEM programs, mentor-ships, and scholarships dedicated to supporting women in aviation.

In her remarks, Robinah Nalumu from Air Serv said the event served as a platform to inspire future aviators. “We invited different girls from different schools to join us, the numbers and turn-up is very good we hope to increase this in next year’s edition.”