How fisherman’s son defied odds to fly UN planes, become flying instructor 

Joseph Otialuk, 34, was among the 31 pilots who graduated from the East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA) in Soroti on Friday last week. 

Despite facing financial difficulties, Otialuk remained committed to his dream of becoming a pilot and spent almost 10 years at the academy also known as Soroti Flying School. 

Otialuk is the firstborn in a family of 12 children from Mugarama village in Labor sub-county in Serere district. His father, Peter Mwanika, is a fisherman and his mother, Peretua Anyago, is a housewife. Otialuk’s interest in piloting started in 1999 when the then army commander Gen Jeje Odongo, landed a helicopter in Pingire sub county.

Otialuk was among the excited crowd who rushed to see the helicopter land. After being invited inside by the crew, Otialuk asked the pilot if he too could fly the helicopter some day, to which he was told to study hard to become a pilot. However, given his family’s financial situation, the dream seemed unattainable. 

Otialuk had only known fishing before enrolling in school, having accompanied his father on fishing trips since he was eight. When he shared his dream of becoming a pilot with his father, it was dismissed as something only attainable by those from wealthy families.

Despite this, Otialuk’s father enrolled him in Atot primary school in Ngora district, where he spent four years before moving to Pingire primary school for primary four to six. Otialuk then joined Aarapo primary School and scored 15 aggregate in the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) in 2002.

He then joined Jerressar high school in Soroti for his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), where he passed with a first grade after obtaining 21 aggregates, before joining Ngora high school. However, he was unable to continue his studies due to a lack of funds, and he returned to Soroti to join Soroti secondary school for his Uganda Advanced Certificate in Education (UACE), scoring 15 points with his combination of HEG/D in 2009.

Throughout his difficult schooling experience, Otialuk never lost sight of his childhood dream. Even when offered a scholarship to become a teacher at Ngetta National Teachers’ College, he declined it as he was determined to join EACAA. Otialuk surprised his father with an admission letter to EACAA, even though he knew of his father’s financial position.

“Somehow, I was convinced that he would manage; God being our help,” he said. 

Despite the initial difficulties, Otialuk’s father managed to raise enough funds to pay the tuition for his first course. After nine months, Otialuk faced financial difficulties yet again as he tried to pay for his remaining courses: commercial pilot license (CPL), multi-engine (ME), and instrument rating (IR) commercial.

Otialuk then became involved in youth politics during the 2011 general elections and had the opportunity to meet President Yoweri Museveni. He shared his situation with the president, who offered him a scholarship to complete his studies. 

According to Otialuk, it was his passion for piloting, coupled with hard work and guidance from God, that helped him achieve his dream. His father commended Otialuk’s discipline, determination, and focus throughout his journey to becoming a pilot. 

“It has been through God’s grace because if my father told you his story compared to mine that is when you will know that it is God that helped. First of all, he didn’t have anything, he’s just a fisherman surviving in the village with seasons of weather. Their capital is maybe Shs 100,000 per season or Shs 200,000 utmost. So a person who gets Shs 200,000 per season how will he manage to pay for you in a flying school?” said Otialuk. 

He attributes his son’s success to hard work and discipline. He describes Otialuk as a determined and focused individual who never complained whenever he was assigned work. Mwanika sold almost everything at home to pay for Otialuk’s first certificate at EACAA and even contemplated selling the family’s only five pieces of land before the president offered his son a scholarship. 

Moses Epilu, a friend of Otialuk, recalls how his friend’s success story is a testament to the power of clear vision. Epilu remembers how Otialuk used to be bullied in school for having an old bedsheet, but he remained resilient and used the sheet until the end of the term.

Despite having issues with fees at EACAA, Otialuk remained optimistic, and his hard work eventually paid off. Otialuk not only became a pilot but also an instructor of pilots. He was given additional scholarships by the president to study ground instructor’s course and flight instructor’s course.

He worked as a teacher at Vine Air Flight Academy for three years before signing a contract with the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service to Chad. 

Otialuk has flown planes in different countries in Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Until 2019, when Otialuk completed his course, he continued to fish with his father at Mugarama landing site in Serere district, going fishing during holidays and sometimes when sent away from school over fees.