lifestyle 6 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
19-Year-Old Ugandan Ayub Lukeita Soars as Pilot Trainee
Ayub Lukeita, a 19-year-old Ugandan, has earned his Private Pilot Licence after skipping traditional schooling post-Senior Four to chase his aviation passion. Training in Uganda and Kenya, he now eyes a Commercial Pilot Licence in South Africa. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/how-ayub-lukeita-became-a-pilot-at-19-5448112
At just 19, Ugandan Ayub Lukeita pilots aircraft with remarkable poise, holding a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) after 65 flight hours. While peers navigate A-Levels or university, he trains at Nairobi’s Flight Training Centre, aiming for a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).
Lukeita ditched the conventional path after Senior Four in 2024, driven by a lifelong fascination with planes. From childhood sky-gazing in a non-aviation family, he convinced his surprised parents and started training at 17 in Kajjansi, Uganda, before advancing to Kenya for diverse experience on Cessna 152 and 172 planes.
Challenging myths, he notes physics isn’t a barrier—flight schools teach essentials like navigation, weather, and aircraft mechanics from scratch. His first solo flight overcame initial nerves and fear of heights, marking a thrilling milestone despite landing’s challenges.
Acknowledging high costs that deter many, Lukeita stresses passion as key for the demanding solo hours in the cockpit. He plans CPL training in South Africa to turn flying into a paying career, building essential flight hours.
Flights over scenic spots like Kasese remain highlights. He urges aspiring pilots: pursue what you love relentlessly.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)