Ugandan-American Woman Promoted To Lt. Col In The US Air Force

Dr. Lukiah Mulumba being pinned to the rank of Lt Col of the US Air Force by her youngest daughter Aliah (left) and son Mark Abdullah Mulumba during the pinning ceremony on Sunday November 7, 2021 at the Travis A

Sickle Cell activist, Lukia Mulumba has become the first known born Ugandan woman to attain the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force.

Mulumba received the pips at the Travis Air Force Base in California in the United States on Sunday November 7, 2021.

Speaking to The East African Diaspora Media watch-EADM, an online news organization that has interest in East Africans living in the diaspora, Mulumba, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1995, said that she is humbled that she has achieved such an unprecedented success.

“I’m greatly humbled and honored by this promotion. This is a recognition and endorsement of my Air Force story, years of hard work, leadership and professionalism by my superiors. To me, this sounds unbelievable and a humbling experience for a woman of color like me. I’m so grateful. The rank is timely,” Mulumba said. “Although the promotion is coming with more challenging responsibilities, I’m ready for them.”

Mulumba boasts of a number of military trainings. She has a master’s degree in air command obtained from the Maxwell Air Force Command and Staff College Alabama. She also trained as battlefield trauma nurse officer from the University of Maryland. She also has training in nuclear, biological, chemical, radiological warfare and terrorism response.

Away from the military trainings, Mulumba, a mother of three children and wife to Abdallah Mulumba also has a doctorate in nursing from the University of Alabama Birmingham. She also has a master’s degree in nursing from the Stony Brook University New York and Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Catholic University of America.

Before leaving for the United States, Mulumba who was born at Kiti in Kasangati Town Council in Wakiso district, had formal education at Namugongo Girls School for primary and Ndejje Secondary School.

-URN