Uganda is a country governed on a three-arm system: The Executive, Parliament and Judiciary.
Section 111 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, as amended in 2005, states that: “There shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State.
Today, Uganda’s Executive consists of the President, the Vice President and about 32 Cabinet ministers and 50 Ministers of State.
The Cabinet is comprised of 40% females, 13 of whom are cabinet ministers and 20 of them are State ministers.
Some of the top women in the Cabinet limelight include Vice President Jessica Alupo, Premier Robinah Nabbanja and her two deputies Rebecca Kadaga and Lukia Isanga Nakadama, Kasule Lumumba – Minister in charge of General Duties, Maria Goretti Kitutu – Minister for Karamoja Affairs among many others.
Jessica Alupo
In what came as a surprise to many, President Yoweri Museveni appointed his former Education Minister Jessica Alupo as the vice president who goes into the records as the second woman in the position in Uganda, after Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe.
Alupo, who doubles as Katakwi Woman Member of Parliament, replaced Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi who deputised the President for a decade.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Linguistics and a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. She also holds a Master’s in Public Administration and management. She was a teacher at Katakwi High School in eastern Uganda, an instructor at the Uganda Urban Warfare Training School, in Nakaseke District and she also served as an intelligence officer at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.
Alupo first contested for Katakwi District woman representative in 2001. She won and was re-elected in 2006. In 2009, she was appointed state minister for Youth and Children Affairs. She was appointed minister of Education and Sports in 2011, replacing Namirembe Bitamazire.
Robinah Nabbanja
Born in present-day Kakumiro District on 17 December 1969, Nabbanja is an educator and politician, now the Prime Minister of Uganda, after being nominated to the office on 8 June 2021. She was formally confirmed by the Parliament on 21 June 2021. She replaced Ruhakana Rugunda, who was named to the post of Envoy For Special Duties In The Office Of The President of Uganda. She is the first female prime minister of Uganda.
Previously, she served as State Minister of Health for General Duties in the Ugandan cabinet, between 14 December 2019[3] until 3 May 2021.
She concurrently serves as the elected Member of Parliament for Kakumiro District Women Constituency in the 11th Parliament (2021–2026), a role she also carried in the 10th Parliament.
Background and education
Robinah attended Nkooko Primary School before she went to St. Edward’s Secondary School Bukuumi, for both her O-Level and A-Level studies.
Between 1990 and 2000, Nabbanja obtained certificates and diplomas in leadership, management and development studies, from various institutions, including Uganda Martyrs University, Uganda Management Institute, the Islamic University in Uganda and the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi. Her Bachelor of Democracy and Development Studies and her Master of Arts in Development Studies were both awarded by Uganda Martyrs University.
Career
From 1993 until 1996, Nabbanja was a school teacher at Uganda Martyrs Secondary School Kakumiro. She then served as District Councillor, representing Nkooko Sub-County, in what was Kibaale District at the time, from 1998 until 2001. She concurrently served as the Secretary for Health, Gender and Community Services for the district during that period.
She then spent the next ten years (2001–2010) serving as a Resident District Commissioner in the districts of Pallisa, Busia and Budaka. In 2011, she joined Uganda’s electoral politics by successfully contesting for Kibaale District Women Representative in the 9th Parliament (2011–2016). When Kakumiro District as created in 2016, she contested for the Women Constituency in the new district and won again. She is the incumbent MP.
In the cabinet reshuffle on 14 December 2019, Nabbanja was appointed State Minister of Health (General Duties), replacing Sarah Achieng Opendi who was named State Minister for Mineral Wealth. Following parliamentary approval, she was sworn into office on 13 January 2020.
In the new cabinet named on 8 June 2021, Nabbanja was named Prime Minister of the 82-member cabinet (2021 to 2026).
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga
Kadaga is a lawyer and politician who served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda from 19 May 2011 until 21 May 2021.
She currently is the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and the Minister for East African Community Affairs.
She is the first woman to be elected Speaker in the history of the Parliament of Uganda. She succeeded Edward Ssekandi, who served as Speaker from 2001 to 2011.
She is also the current woman MP for the Kamuli District in Busoga sub-region, a position she has held since 1989.
Background and education
Born on 24 May 1956, Kadaga attended Namasagali College for her high school education. She studied law at Makerere University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor’s of Laws (LLB), in 1978. She went on to obtain a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center in Kampala in 1979.
In 2000, she obtained a Diploma in Women’s Law from the University of Zimbabwe.
In 2003, she obtained the degree of Master of Arts (MA), specializing in Women’s Law, also from the University of Zimbabwe.
In 2019, Nkumba University, a private university in Uganda, awarded Kadaga an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Work experience
Between 1984 and 1988, she was in private law practice. From 1989 to 1996, she served as the member of parliament for Kamuli District in the District Woman’s Constituency. She served as the Chairperson of the University Council for Mbarara University, between 1993 and 1996. During 1996, she served as Secretary General of the East African Women Parliamentarians Association.
From 1996 to 1998, Kadaga was the Ugandan Minister of State for Regional Cooperation (Africa and the Middle East). From 1998 to 1999, she was Minister of State for Communication and Aviation, and from 1999 to 2000, she was Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. She was elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament in 2001, a position that she held until 19 May 2011, when she was elected Speaker of Parliament.
Following the February 2016 general election, Kadaga was unanimously re-elected as Speaker of Parliament on 19 May 2016.
On December 20, 2017, Kadaga presided over the Ugandan Parliament while passing an amendment to the Constitution which, among other measures, eliminated the requirement that candidates vying for the presidency be under 75 years of age. The amendment essentially gave Museveni leeway to run for President of Uganda for his sixth term in office.
On 14 January 2021, Kadaga was re-elected to Parliament as a Woman Representative for Kamuli District. Consequently, she embarked on a campaign to retain her position as Speaker of Parliament for a third term. Kadaga lost the Speaker Vote to her former deputy Jacob Oulanyah after falling out of favour with her party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Parliamentary duties
Besides her duties as speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, she sat on the following parliamentary committees:
Appointments Committee – The Committee reviews all Cabinet appointments by the President, and may approve or reject an appointment: The Speaker chairs the committee
The Parliamentary Commission – The Speaker chairs the Commission
The Business Committee – The Speaker chairs the committee
Moses Ali
Born on 5 April 1939, Gen. Ali is a politician and retired military officer. He is the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament. He previously served in the Cabinet of Uganda as Third Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business from May 2011 until June 2016. He also served as the First Deputy Prime Minister from June 2016 to May 2021. He has also been the elected Member of Parliament for East Moyo County in Adjumani District since 2011.
Background and education
Moses Ali hails from Adjumani District (former Madi District) in northern Uganda. He holds a Bachelor’s of Laws (LLB), obtained from Makerere University. He also holds the Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Center in Kampala. Moses Ali also holds qualifications from military educational institutions in Uganda, Israel and the United Kingdom. He is a Muslim.
Career
Ali was involved in the 1971 Ugandan coup d’état that overthrew President Milton Obote and brought Idi Amin to power. He consequently rose in the ranks during the duration of the Second Republic of Uganda, when Amin ruled the country as military dictator.
Ali was appointed Minister of Finance. Journalists Tony Avirgan and Martha Honey described Ali as one of Amin’s “closest henchmen”. As Minister of Finance, he used his position to organize an Islamic charity. This garnered him a lot of popular support, but also raised Amin’s suspicions, as he feared Ali was attempting to construct a Muslim political base of support. Indeed, Ali gained many followers within the Uganda Army.
In April 1978, the President organized a meeting in the capital Kampala, where he railed against ministers whom he deemed disloyal, too powerful or incompetent, including Ali. Accusing the Minister of Finance of mismanaging the Bank of Uganda, gross corruption, mishandling Muslim Supreme Council funds, and ignoring orders by the government, Amin became so angry during his speech that he threw a trashcan at Ali. Having realized that his situation was untenable, Ali got away as soon as possible. He quietly snuck out of Kampala in his private car and fled to his home in the West Nile Region. When he got there, however, a group of hitmen attacked him, but he fended them off in a gunfight. Ali was convinced that his downfall and the attempted assassination had been organized by the Uganda Army commander Yusuf Gowon, a long-time rival of his. Amin subsequently stripped him of all of his military honours. However, Amin was still wary of Ali’s large following, and only formally fired him from his ministerial portfolio in August 1978. Around October, ten SRB agents attempted to arrest Ali, but were killed.
When Amin’s regime collapsed during the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–1979, Ali fled into exile in southern Sudan, finding refuge in Nimule. In the 1980s he led the Uganda National Rescue Front in an armed rebellion against the government of reinstated President Milton Obote, and became a warlord ruling a fief in southern Sudan.
Among the insurgents of the early Ugandan Bush War, he waged the “most effective guerrilla campaign”. Using his influence and military powers to his advantage, Ali eventually negotiated a favorable deal with Yoweri Museveni who took power as President at the Bush War’s end in 1986.
His forces were integrated into Uganda’s new national army, the National Resistance Army which later became the Uganda People’s Defence Force, and he was appointed a Major General. As a result of his powerful position in Uganda’s new government and military, Ali became highly influential and quite wealthy.
Ali served in the Ugandan Parliament from 2001. He was further promoted to Lieutenant General on 13 March 2003, but lost both his parliamentary seat and his ministerial appointment in 2006. In 2011, at the age of 72, he regained his position in parliament and was assigned new cabinet responsibilities. In the next year, Ali was once again promoted to the rank of general in the Uganda People’s Defence Force. In 2016, following his re-election to parliament, he was again appointed First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
Rukia Isanga Nakadama
Sometimes written Rukia Isanga Nakadama, she is a businesswoman, educator and politician. She is the current Third Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister Without Portfolio, effective 9 June 2021.
Before that, she served as State Minister for Gender and Culture in the Ugandan Cabinet. She was appointed to that position in 2006. In the cabinet reshuffle of 16 February 2009, and that of 27 May 2011, she retained this cabinet post. She is also the elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mayuge District Women’s Representative. She has been continuously re-elected to that position since 2001.
Background and education
Nakadama was born on 2 February 1970. She was raised in a polygamous family, the 6th born of her mother’s 12 children. Her father had two other wives.
She attended Nabisunsa Girls School, a public middle and high school, located in Nakawa Division in northeastern Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. She obtained a Certificate in Teaching, prior to 1999, from the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK), which is now part of Kyambogo University, one of Uganda’s eight public universities, as of February 2015.
She also holds a diploma in Customs Clearing & Forwarding, which she obtained in 2000. Her diploma in Education was obtained in 2004, from the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU). She also holds a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from IUIU.
Career
Prior to 2001, she worked as a private businesswoman and as a teacher at the Hassantourabi Education Centre in Mayuge District. She was first elected to Parliament in 2001, as the Woman Representative for her home district of Mayuge. In 2006, she was re-elected to continue representing the same constituency. She was appointed to her present cabinet post in 2006.
Janet Kataaha Museveni
She was born on June 24, 1948 in Kajara County, Ntungamo District to Mr. Edward Birori and Mrs. Mutesi.
She is a Ugandan politician who has been the First Lady, married to President Yoweri Museveni, with whom she has four children. She has been Cabinet Minister of Education and Sports in the Ugandan Cabinet, since 6 June 2016.
She previously served as Minister for Karamoja Affairs in the Cabinet of Uganda from 27 May 2011 until 6 June 2016. She also served as the elected Member of Parliament representing Ruhaama County in Ntungamo District, between 2011 and 2016. She published her autobiography, My Life’s Journey, in 2011.
Early life and marriage
She attended Kyamate Primary School, and Bweranyangi Girls’ Senior Secondary School in Uganda.
Janet Museveni went into exile in 1971, when Idi Amin toppled the Milton Obote regime in a military coup. She married Yoweri Museveni in August 1973. When Idi Amin’s regime fell from power in April 1979, she moved back to Uganda from Tanzania where she had been living in exile with her husband.
In February 1981 when Yoweri Museveni launched his guerrilla war against the government of President Obote, Janet Museveni and her children re-located to Nairobi, Kenya, where they lived with family friends until 1983. In 1983, they moved to Gothenburg, Sweden, and stayed there until May 1986, four months after Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army had seized power in Kampala.
Career
Janet Museveni founded the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), a private relief agency in late 1986, which she said was shaped by her experience as a refugee. She became involved with the HIV/AIDS campaigns in Uganda in the 1990s, forging ties with radical pastor Martin Ssempa for abstinence-only sex education in Uganda.
In November 2005, she announced that she would seek the parliamentary seat of Ruhaama county in the February 2006 general elections. She contested the seat against the candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change, Augustine Ruzindana, and won overwhelmingly. She was re-elected in March 2011 to another five-year term.
On 16 February 2009, Janet Museveni was appointed State Minister for Karamoja Affairs by President Yoweri Museveni.
On 27 May 2011, she was elevated to Minister for Karamoja Affairs, complete with a State Minister for Karamoja Affairs.
On 6 June 2016, after Museveni’s re-election as President, she was appointed Minister of Education and Sports.
Milly Babirye Babalanda
Born on 5th December 1970, Babalanda is a politician who became Minister of the Presidency in the Cabinet of Uganda under President Yoweri Museveni in June 2021. She is reportedly one of the Presidents most influential ministers.
Early life
She was born in Nalinaibi village in Kamuli district.
Political career
She is a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
Personal life
Her husband is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor.
Major General (Retired) Jim Muhwezi Katugugu
He is a lawyer, politician and retired military officer who serves as the Cabinet Minister for National Security, effective 8 June 2021.
In the past, from March 2015 until May 2016, he served as the Minister of Information and National Guidance. He had been appointed to that position in a cabinet reshuffle on 1 March 2015, replacing Rose Namayanja, who was dropped from the Cabinet.
Also, he is MP Rujumbura County, Rukungiri District, a seat he recaptured in 2021, having lost it for five years between 2016 and 2021.
Background and education
Born in Rukungiri District on 23 August 1950, Muhwezi holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB), from Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest public university. He also has received Senior Military Police and Security Intelligence Training from Tanzania and the former Soviet Union.
In July 2009, the Law Development Center in Kampala awarded him the Diploma in Legal Practice, the prerequisite to enrolling as an advocate in Uganda and for obtaining a license to practice law in the country.
Work experience
In the 1970s, he worked as a policeman in the Uganda Police Force. He was one of the combatants in the war (1981–1986) that ushered the National Resistance Movement into power. After the war, he served as a member of the National Resistance Council (NRC) from 1986 until 1996. During the same period, he concurrently served as the first Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).
As head of ISO, Muhwezi is credited with cleaning up the reputation and image of the security police apparatus. During his ten-year tenure at the agency, no allegations of torture were raised against the agency. Between 1994 and 1995, he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1995 Ugandan Constitution. From 1996 until 1998, he served as Minister of State in Charge of Primary Education. He was appointed Minister of Health in 2001, serving in that capacity until 2006.
Personal details
Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is married to Susan Muhwezi, a sister to Ugandan tycoon Bob Kabonero and Ambassador Richard Kabonero. Jim has seven children. He is reported to enjoy reading and playing golf.
Misi Kabanda
Sometimes known as Hajjat Misi Kabanda, she is the current cabinet and minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs. She was one of the ministers who finalized plans for the company to assemble and manufacture buses to ease transport needs in the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) through Kampala Capital City Authority and the METU bus industries. However, President Museveni rejected Loans for Importation of Buses.
Justine Lumumba Kasule
She is an educator and politician and the current Minister, Office of the Prime Minister (General Duties).
Before that, she was the Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement. She was appointed to that position on 23 December 2014, replacing Amama Mbabazi.
Prior to that, she served as the Chief Government Whip in the Cabinet of Uganda from May 2011 until December 2014. Lumumba also served as the elected Member of Parliament for Bugiri District Women’s Representative, from 2001, until her resignation in December 2014.
Background and education
She was born in Bugiri District on 22 November 1972. She attended St. Anthony Senior Secondary School in Nkokonjeru for her O-level studies. She then transferred to St. Joseph’s Secondary School at Naggalama, for her A-Level education. In 1993, she was admitted to Makerere University, where she graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a concurrent Diploma in Education, in 1996.
Career
From 1996 until 1997 she worked as a teacher. From 1997 until 1998, she worked as the Acting District Inspector of Schools in her home district. From 1998 until 2001, she worked as a Senior Education Officer at the Ministry of Education. In 2001, she was elected to the Parliament, on the National Resistance Movement political party ticket, to serve as the Women’s Representative for Bugiri District.
She was re-elected from 2001 until 2014, when she stepped down to become secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement political party. In May 2011, she was appointed as Government Chief Whip, replacing John Nasasira.
Hilary Obaloker Onek
Born on 5 May 1948, Onek is an engineer and politician and Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugee since 27 May 2013. He replaced Tarsis Kabwegyere.
Prior to that, Hilary Onek served as the Minister for Energy & Minerals, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011. Before that, he served as Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries from 2006 to 2009. He is also the elected MP representing Lamwo County, Lamwo District. He was first elected to Parliament in 2001.
History
Onek is the second born to Samson Okello Otto, son of Rwot Damwoy of Pakala Clan in Palabek Gem and Mrs. Jera Ayoo, daughter of Rwot Onyanga, the Paramount Chief of Palabek, one of the six chieftaincies of Lamwo County. The Pakala Clan are largely found in Gem, Lokung and a few in parts of South Sudan, along the border with Palabek and Lokung. In the olden days, the Rwodi or Royal Acholi families arranged marriages of their children.
Mze Samson Okello Otto was serving in the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in Kenya during 1946 when he married Mama Ayoo. He left the Army in 1954 and joined the Public Works Department (PWD) at Entebbe and later worked in different parts of Uganda, including Mubende, Hoima, Soroti and Moroto. Mze Otto moved with his family wherever duty took him.
Education
Onek attended his primary school in Moroto, Karamoja. He attended St. Mary’s College Kisubi for both his “O” & “A” Level education, from 1965 until 1970.
From 1971 until 1974, hwe attended Makerere University, but he dropped out before graduation. He proceeded to the People’s Friendship University in Moscow, Russia, where he studied from 1974 until 1979, graduating with the Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Civil Engineering and the Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering, majoring in Water Resources & Hydro-technical Structural Engineering. Following his MSc studies, he completed a one-year fellowship at the Moscow Institute of Civil Engineering in Hydropower Dams & Hydro-technical Structures, from 1979 until 1980.
He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Investment Appraisal and Management, from Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, obtained in 1994. In 1997, he obtained another postgraduate certificate in Public-Private Partnership in Utility Management, from the Institute for Public-Private Partnerships, in Washington, DC. Between 1998 and 2000, he attended Makerere University, graduating with the degree of Master of Business Administration, (MBA).
Mary Goretti Kitutu
She is an academic, politician and environmentalist who serves as the Minister for Karamoja Affairs. She is the former Minister of Energy and Mineral Development. From 10 June 2016, until 14 December 2019, she served as the State Minister for the Environment. Dr Mary Kitutu concurrently served as the elected Manafwa District Women’s Representative, in the 10th Parliament (2016 – 2021).
Background and education
She was born in Manafwa District on 17 September 1962. After attending local schools, she entered Makerere University in 1984, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Geology. In 1993, she went back to Makerere and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Her Master of Science degree was obtained in 1998 from the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente, in Enschede, Netherlands. In 2011, she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy from Makerere University, in Kampala, Uganda.
Career
Her first job out of university was as a teacher at Busoga College Mwiri, from 1988 until 1991. From 1991 until 1996, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, in Gayaza, Wakiso District. After she left teaching, she worked as a consultant at Axis Technical Geo Mineral Consult, between 1998 and 2001.
In April 2002, she was hired as a Research Officer and Environmental Specialist at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), serving in that capacity until February 2015. From February 2015, she worked as a Senior Technical Advisor and Environmental Monitor at Tetra Tech, a project sponsored by USAID, serving in that capacity until 2015.
Politics
In late 2015, she entered Ugandan elective politics by contesting for the Manafwa District Women Representative in the 2016 national and parliamentary elections. She was appointed State Minister for the Environment on 6 June 2016. In a cabinet reshuffle on 14 December 2019, Kitutu, was named Cabinet Minister for Energy and Mineral Development replacing Irene Muloni, who was dropped from Cabinet.
Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze
He is an educator and politician of the National Resistance Movement political party. He is the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, appointed on 8 June 2021.
He previously served as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was appointed to that position on 14 December 2019.
He was also the Minister of Information Technology and Communications, from 6 June 2016 to 13 December 2019. He was Minister for the Presidency and Minister for the Kampala Capital City Authority between 2012 and 2016. He was automatically appointed Member of Parliament for Kibale County in Kamwenge District when the two other contestants for the seat withdrew under suspicious circumstances.
Background and education
Tumwebaze was born in Kamwenge District on 1 December 1975 to Matayo Kagyigyi and Beatrice Kagyigyi. He is the fifth-born in a family of seven children.
He attended Jinja College for his A-Level education. He received a Bachelor of Science in education in 1999, from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. He also holds a Masters in International and Diplomatic Studies, and a Master in Public Health obtained in 2005 and 2019 from Makerere University, the oldest university in Uganda. In January 2019, he was awarded a Master of Public Health degree by Makerere University.
Career
Beginning in 2000 until 2001, he served as a customs officer with the Uganda Revenue Authority. In 2001, he was appointed deputy resident district commissioner and was posted to Iganga District, serving in that capacity until 2003. He was then brought into State House, where he served as a special presidential assistant for research and information from 2003 until 2005.
In 2006, he entered elective politics by contesting the parliamentary constituency of Kibale County in Kamwenge District. He was elected on the National Resistance Movement political party ticket. In 2011, he was re-elected. In a cabinet reshuffle on 15 August 2012, he was appointed as minister for the presidency replacing Kabakumba Masiko, who resigned from government on 14 December 2011 following allegations of “abuse of office”, “theft by taking”, “causing monetary loss to the government” and “conspiracy to defraud government”.
In June 2016, he was named as cabinet minister of ICT. In a cabinet reshuffle on 14 December 2019, Tumwebaze was named minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, replacing Janat Mukwaya, who was dropped from the cabinet. On 28 May 2021 he was named as a member of the 11th Parliament’s Appointment Committee and this committee which is chaired by the Speaker of Parliament vets and approves members appointed by the President.
Kiryowa Kiwanuka Nsumikambi Mugambe
Commonly known as Kiryowa Kiwanuka, is a lawyer, businessman and politician who serves as the Attorney General of Uganda in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was appointed to that position on 8 June 2021, replacing William Byaruhanga, who was dropped from cabinet.
Background and education
Kiwanuka was born in Uganda circa 1972. His father, the late Jimmy Mugambe Kiwanuka was a Ugandan lawyer. His late paternal grandfather, Jolly Joe Kiwanuka, was a Ugandan politician who was murdered by dictator Idi Amin in the early 1970s.
Kiryowa spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, where the family lived in political exile, before returning to Uganda in 1980. He attended Budo Junior School for his elementary school. He then transferred to Kings College Budo for his O-Level studies. For his A-Level education, he studied at Makerere College School. In 1993, he was admitted to Makerere University to study law.
He then attended the Law Development Centre, graduating with a Diploma in Legal Practice. He was admitted to the Uganda Bar in 1997. Later, he was awarded the degree of Master of Laws in Petroleum Law and Policy by the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Career
Prior to his current appointment, Kiwanuka was a founding Partner of K and K Advocates & Solicitors Uganda, a privately owned Kampala law firm. On 8 June 2021, he was appointed as Attorney General of Uganda.
Family
Kiryowa is married to Sarah Kiwanuka, whom he met in 1997. They are the parents of four children. He has a younger brother, Bakadde Kiwanuka, who practices law in the United Kingdom.
Other responsibilities
Kiryowa Kiwanuka serves on the board of directors of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, since 2015. He also serves as the Chairman of Express Football Club, a premier league soccer club in Uganda.
Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja
He is a politician and the Minister of Defence since June 2021. He previously served as the Cabinet Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries from 2016 to 2022.
He also served as State Minister for Agriculture, between 1 March 2015 and 6 June 2016.
Background and education
Ssempijja was born in Kalungu District, in Buganda, on 28 November 1956. He completed his O-Level studies in 1974, and his A-Level education in 1976. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, obtained from Nkumba University in 2007. His degree of Master of Arts in Public Administration, was obtained in 2010, also from Nkumba University.
Career
Prior to 2011, Ssempijja served as the District Chairman for Masaka District. This was before Kalungu District, Lwengo District and Bukomansimbi District were peeled off of the old Masaka District.
In 2011, he was elected to the 9th Ugandan Parliament to represent “Kalungu County East”.
Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu
She is a politician, who serves as the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development in the Ugandan Cabinet, effective 8 June 2021.
From 1 March 2015 until 3 May 2021, she served as the Chief Government Whip, a Cabinet-level position in Uganda replacing Justine Lumumba Kasule, who was given the post of Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement political party on 23 December 2014.
Prior to that, from 27 May 2011 until 1 March 2015, Nankabirwa served as the State Minister for Fisheries in the Cabinet of Uganda replacing Fred Mukisa, who was dropped from the cabinet. She also served as State Minister for Microfinance, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011.
Background and education
Ruth Nankabirwa was born on 28 November 1965. She hails from Kiboga District in Central Uganda. She attended Bamusuuta Primary School for her Primary Education. She studied at Nabisunsa Girls’ Secondary School, for both O-Level and A-Level education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art from Makerere University. She also holds the degree of Master of Arts in Conflict Studies, also from Makerere.
Career
From 1994 through 1995, she served as a delegate to the Constituent Assembly. In 1996, Ruth Nankabirwa was elected to serve as the member of parliament for Woman Delegate for Kiboga District, a position she held from 1996 until 2021.
From 1998 through 2001, she served as Minister of State for Luweero Triangle in the Office of the Prime Minister. Between 2001 and 2009, she served as State Minister for Defense, a post she held until she was appointed to be the State Minister for Microfinance.
In the Cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, she was moved to the Fisheries Ministry as State Minister, a position she held until she was named Chief Government Whip.
Matia Kasaija
He is the current Minister of Finance in Uganda’s Cabinet since 1 March 2015, replacing Maria Kiwanuka, who was appointed to Senior Presidential Advisor for Finance.
From 27 May 2011 until 28 February 2015, he served as the State Minister for Finance (Planning) replacing Ephraim Kamuntu, who was promoted to Minister of Tourism. Before that, he served as the State Minister for Internal Affairs, from 1 June 2006 until May 2011. He is also the elected Member of Parliament for “Buyanja County”, Kibaale District.
Background and education
He was born in Kibaale District on 28 May 1944. He studied at University of Nairobi, back in the 1960s when it was part of the University of East Africa. Kasaija graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) circa 1967.
Work experience
During the Ugandan elections of 1980, at the age of 36, Matia Kasaija was elected to the Ugandan Parliament. From 1980 until 1981, he served as the State Minister for Labor.
From 1981 until 1986, he served as a member of the External Wing of the National Resistance Army. Between 1987 and 1990, he served as the Executive Director of the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board, a government parastatal that was charged with safeguarding the property expropriated from the Asians expelled from the country by Idi Amin in the 1970s.
From 1998 until 1998, he served as the Deputy Director for Mass Mobilization at the National Resistance Movement Secretariat. During the 2006 parliamentary elections, he was elected to the 8th Parliament. He was appointed Minister of State for Internal Affairs in June 2006. In the national elections of 2011, he was re-elected to his parliamentary seat. In the cabinet reshuffle on 27 May 2011, he was reassigned to the Finance Ministry, as the State Minister for Planning.
General Haji Abubaker Jeje Odongo
He is a senior military officer and politician. In June 2021, he was appointed minister for Foreign Affairs.
He has previously served as Minister of Internal Affairs in the Cabinet of Uganda from 2016 to 2022. Previously he served as Minister of State for Defence from February 2009 to June 2016.
History
Jeje Odongo was born in Amuria District, in the Teso sub-region, in Eastern Uganda. He attended secondary school at Ngora High School. He entered the Ugandan army in 1979. He is one of the original twenty seven combatants who, together with Yoweri Museveni, attacked Kabamba Military Barracks in February 1981 to start the Ugandan Bush War, a guerrilla war that lasted from February 1981 until April 1986. Jeje Odongo was captured soon after the first NRA operation and was imprisoned in Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In 1994, Jeje Odongo was one of the ten army officers who represented the Ugandan military in the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Ugandan Constitution. In 1996, he was selected to replace Colonel Sserwanga Lwanga as the Political Commissar in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). Also in 1996, he contested the parliamentary seat for Amuria District in the Ugandan Parliament. He won and was appointed as Minister of Defence soon after he entered parliament.
In 1998, he resigned his parliamentary seat and his cabinet position and was appointed Commander of the Army, taking over from Major General Mugisha Muntu. He served as army commander until 2001, when he was replaced by Major General James Kazini. In 2001, he was appointed as Minister without Portfolio, a position he occupied until 2004. In 2004, now at the rank of Lieutenant General, Jeje Odongo was appointed as Minister of State for the Environment.
Between 2001 and 2006, he was one of 10 senior UPDF officers who represented the Ugandan military in the 8th Ugandan Parliament. In May 2008, Jeje Odongo graduated with the degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nkumba University. On 16 February 2009, he was promoted to General and appointed Minister of State for Defence. After seven years in that post, he was instead appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs in the cabinet list announced on 6 June 2016.
On 18 February 2022 he participated in the European Union – African Union Summit in Brussels. A controversy arose when he greeted President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, only after an intervention by Emmanuel Macron, which was considered a misogynistic attitude.
Betty Amongi Akena
Commonly known as Betty Amongi, she is the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development in the Cabinet of Uganda, as of 9 June 2021. Previously, she served as the Cabinet Minister of Kampala Capital City and before that, from 6 June 2016 until 14 December 2019, she served as the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Uganda’s cabinet.
She is also the incumbent member of parliament representing the Oyam South Constituency in the 11th Parliament (2021 to 2026).
Background and education
Betty Amongi was born in Oyam District, Lango sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda, on 15 November 1975. In 1996, she entered Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and public administration. Later in 2009, she was awarded a Master of Arts in International relations and Diplomatic studies.
Career
Amongi was first elected to parliament in 2001 and was re-elected in 2006, 2011 and 2016. In a surprise move following the 20 February 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, President Yoweri Museveni named her Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, despite her affiliation to the opposition Uganda People’s Congress.
In a cabinet reshuffle on 14 December 2019, she was named cabinet minister of Kampala Capital City, switching dockets with Beti Kamya-Turwomwe, who took over at Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
In June 2021, Amongi was appointed Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development in the new cabinet.
Jane Ruth Aceng
Born on 11 May 1968, she is the Minister of Health since 6 June 2016. Before that, from June 2011 until June 2016, she served as the Director General of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health.
Background and education
She attended Shimoni Primary School in Kampala and also went to Nabisunsa Girls Secondary School for both her Ordinary and Advanced Level education.
She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a Master of Medicine in Pediatrics, and a Master of Public Health, all from the Makerere University College of Health Sciences. She also holds a Diploma in Health Systems Management awarded by the Galilee International Management Institute, in Israel.
Career
She began serving as a medical officer in the health ministry. At the time she was appointed Director General of Medical Services, she was serving as executive director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital.
Other considerations
Aceng is a member of the board of directors of the Infectious Diseases Institute. She also served as a member of the board of Uganda National Medical Stores, the pharmaceutical procurement and distribution arm of the health ministry, from 2005 until 2016.
Political career
In July 2020, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng declared her intentions to contest for the position of Women Representative for Lira District, in the 11th Parliament (2021 – 2026).
Chris Baryomunsi
Born on 9 December 1969, he is a physician, public health specialist, demographer, and politician. He is the Minister for ICT and National Guidance. From 1 March 2015 until 6 June 2016, he served as State Minister of Health for General Duties.
Baryomunsi is the elected member of Parliament for Kinkizi County East and a member of Uganda’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement.
Early life and education
Baryomunsi was born in Murama Village, Nyakishenyi, Rukungiri District, to the late Aloysius Mpungirehe and the late Rosaria Kamayangi.
In 1971, when Chris was two years old, his parents migrated to Kayungwe, Rugyeyo in present-day Kanungu District. Baryomunsi attended Kayungwe Primary School for his primary education and St. Paul’s Seminary, Kabale for his O-Level and A-Level education.
He was admitted to Makerere University to study human medicine where he graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1995. In 1997, he was awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in demography, and in 1998 he received a Master of Arts in demography, all from Makerere. In 2003, he received the Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management from the University of Brighton. In 2016, he obtained a PhD in Public Health majoring in Maternal Health from Atlantic International University, USA.
Medical career
From 1995 until 1998, he worked as a medical officer at Mulago Hospital. From 1999 to 2002, he worked as a reproductive health adviser for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. He later worked as a reproductive health adviser for UNFPA between 2002 and 2006. He also worked as a lecturer at Makerere University between 2000 and 2006.
Political career
Baryomunsi began his political career in high school, where he served as the elected minister for education at St. Paul’s Seminary from 1988 to 1990. While at Makerere University in the early 1990s, he was the finance secretary for the Federation of African Medical Students’ Association and the secretary for finance for the Makerere University Medical Students’ Association.
In 2005, he was appointed as a United Nations Population Fund HIV/AIDS Advisor for Harare. He turned down the job so that he could contest in the 2006 Ugandan parliamentary election. He ran as the NRM political party candidate for the Kinkiizi County East constituency in Kanungu District and was elected to Parliament.
He was also elected president of the African Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development. While in Parliament, he served on the Social Services Committee and has served on the Health and HIV/AIDS Committees to date.
He also has served as a Parliamentary Commissioner for NRM in the Parliament of Uganda from June 2011 to April 2014. On 1 March 2015, he was appointed as State Minister of Health for General Duties. On 6 June 2016, he was appointed State Minister for Housing.
Other considerations
He is known to be an independent thinker, who is not afraid to disagree with his party when it diverts “from pro-people issues”.
Previously, he has served in the following capacities:
Vice chairperson of HIV/AIDS and Health Committees, in the Parliament
Chairman of the board of directors of the AIDS Information Centre
Technical advisor on HIV and AIDS, GTZ
Programme advisor, United Nations Population Fund
Member of the Parliamentary Budget Committee
President of the African Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development
President, Rotary Club of Kabarole
Major General Kahinda Otafiire
Kahinda is a Ugandan politician and retired military officer who is the current Minister of Internal Affairs.
He previously served as the Justice & Constitutional Affairs in the Ugandan Cabinet. Otafiire is also MP for Ruhinda County, Mitooma District.
Background and education
He was born in Mitooma District on 29 December 1950. He attended Kitabi Seminary, Kahinda Otafiire holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Social Science. He also holds a certificate in the French Language.
Career
Kahinda Otafiire first worked as a Youth Officer from 1975 until 1976. He then worked as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1976 until 1980. In 1981, he joined Yoweri Museveni in the National Resistance Army (NRA) guerrilla organisation, where he served as the Chief Political Commissar from 1981 until 1984.
Between 1984 and 1986, the title of his job was called National Political Commissar, also in the NRA. Just prior to the NRA capturing power from the military junta in Kampala in 1986, he served as Commissioner, Internal Affairs Interim Administration, in the areas under NRA administration from 1985 until 1986.
Between 1986 and 1988, he served as Minister of State for Internal Affairs. He had to resign this position because he brandished a pistol at a woman in a Kampala bar. From 1988 until 1992, he served as the Presidential Assistant for Security. He then served as the Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1992 until 1994.
From 1994 until 1995, he served as a delegate to the Constituent Assembly which drafted the 1995 Uganda Constitution. He then served as Minister of State for Security from 1994 until 1995. From 1996 until 2001, Kahinda Otafiire served as Minister of State for Local Government. He was elected to Parliament in 1996.
Between 1998 and 2001, he served as the political head of the Uganda Military Expedition into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2001, he was appointed Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, a position he served in until 2003. In that year he was appointed Minister of Land, Water and the Environment. He served in that capacity until 2006.
Otafiire has also served as Minister for Local Government, prior to becoming Minister of Trade and Industry in February 2009. He served in that capacity until he was appointed Uganda’s Justice Minister in May 2011.
Judith Nalule Nabakooba
The 45-year old is a politician and former policewoman. She is currently the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. Before that, from December 2019, until May 2021, she served as the Cabinet Minister of Information and Communications Technology.
Nabakooba served as the elected Member of Parliament, representing Mityana District Women’s Constituency in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021).
Education
Nabakooba attended Ndejje Secondary School, in Luweero District, for her middle school and high school education, where she obtained both the Uganda Certificate of Education in 1994, and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 1997. She was admitted to Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Mass Communication degree in 2002. Later, she was awarded a Master’s degree in Human Rights, also from the same institution.
She also holds a Diploma in Strategic Leadership Management, from Chartered Management Institute, in the United Kingdom, obtained in 2010. In addition, she holds two other diplomas, one a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and the other a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation, both awarded by Uganda Management Institute, in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Career
From 2004 until 2015, Nabakooba served in the Uganda Police Force, where she held various positions, including as the spokesperson for the Police Force, from 2011 until 2015. Other responsibilities during that period, included as Secretary to Exodus Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Limited, the savings and credit co-operative society of Uganda Police (UP) personnel and their families. She left the UP for active politics in June 2015.
In the 2016 general elections, Nabakooba was elected as Mityana District Woman Representative on the ruling National Resistance Movement political party ticket. During her tenure, she has faced criticism and threats over her position regarding the parliamentary Age-Limit Bill She has also faced criticism over the delayed Kasese Report.
In a cabinet reshuffle on 14 December 2019, Nabakooba was appointed Minister of Information, ICT and Communication, replacing Frank Tumwebaze, who was appointed Minister of Labour, Gender, Youth Services and Social Development.
Raphael Magyezi
Born on July 27, 1960, Magyezi is the Minister for Local Government.
He attended Diploma Katigondo Seminary for Religious Studies in 1983. He earned a BSc in Philosophy from the Urban University of Rome in 1984 and National College of Business Studies, Nakawa for Business studies in 1990. He attended Makerere University in 1992 for BSc in Statistics, earning a Certificate in Human Resource Management in 1996. He completed his M.A in Economic and Management from the Makerere University in 1998. In 2004, he went for a diploma course at Diploma Kristiansand College Norway in Local Government Management studies.
Career
He worked as a statistician planner in Mukono District Local Government from 1991 to 1996. He was Senior Economist Ministry of Local Government from 1997 to 1998 and Secretary General of the Uganda Local Governments Association from 1998 to 2010. He joined the Parliament in 2010 and was appointed Minister of Local Government in 2020.
Magyezi declared not to contest for 2021 elections, telling the Uganda Radio Network that after 10 years as a member of Parliament, he announced to take a rest from politics but could return in the future. Magyezi did not give a definite reason for taking a break.
Wilson Muruli Mukasa
He was born on 5 July 1952 and has been Cabinet Minister of Public Service in the Ugandan Cabinet since 6 June 2016. He has previously served as Cabinet Minister of Gender and Social Issues from 1 March 2015, until 6 June 2016. Previously he served as Minister of Security from 27 May 2011 until 1 March 2015. Muruli Mukasa also serves as the Member of Parliament for Budyebo County in Nakasongola District.
Background and education
He was born in Nakasongola District on 5 July 1952. He attended local elementary and secondary schools. He studied at Makerere University earning the combined degree/diploma of Bachelor of Arts with the Diploma in Education (BA.Dip.Ed.) in 1975. In 1987, he earned the Certificate in Hotel Management, from an undisclosed institution in Tripoli, Libya.
Career
For eleven years, from 1975 until 1986, Muruli Mukasa was a teacher and was the principal of the school where he taught. Since 1989, he has been a member of parliament, representing his home constituency. He was appointed Minister of Security in May 2011. He replaced Amama Mbabazi, who was appointed Prime Minister of Uganda.
In addition to his docket of Security, Mukasa has served as Minister for Kampala, before a substantive minister was appointed in 2011, and in 2014, when the line Minister, Frank Tumwebaze, took a leave of absence. In a cabinet reshuffle on 1 March 2015, he was transferred to the post of Minister of Gender and Social Issues, replacing Mary Karooro Okurut, who was named Minister for Security. On 6 June 2016, he was named Cabinet Minister for Public Service, in the cabinet list announced that day.
Colonel (Retired) Tom Butime
Born in1947 he is the Cabinet Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was as PM Mwenge County Central, Kyenjojo District, in the 10th Parliament.
He served as State Minister for Communications from 13 January 2005 until February 2006. After the general elections in February 2006, he was named State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, a posting he declined to assume. In 2011, Butime contested for the position of Representative of Mwenge County North, but lost to David Muhumuza.
Previously, Butime was the Minister of Internal Affairs from July 6, 1996 to July 2001, and he also served as Minister of State for Refugees and Disaster Preparedness during that time. From 2001 until a cabinet reshuffle in January 2005, Butime served as Minister of State for International Cooperation and served as acting Foreign Minister from March 2004 to January 2005.
He is a trained Cinematographer. His hobby is soccer, with Manchester United as his favourite Premier league side. He also enjoys farming.
Sam Cheptoris
He is the Cabinet Minister of Water and Environment in the Cabinet of Uganda. He was appointed to that position on 6 June 2016.
Background and education
Cheptoris was born in present-day Kapchorwa District, on 12 December 1949. He studied at Nabumali High School, before attending the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. Later, he studied at Makerere University, graduating first with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and later with a Master of Education.
Academic career
In 1975, after his undergraduate studies in Nairobi, Cheptoris served as a teacher of English and English Literature at Sebei College, Tegeres. Between 1978 and 1981, he served as deputy head teacher at the same school. After brief stints at Comboni College and at Gamatui Girls School, he came back to Sebei College as Headmaster in 1998. He retired from academics in 2009.
Political career
In 2011 Cheptoris won the Kapchorwa District LC5 position on the National Resistance Movement political party ticket. After one five-year term, he successfully contested for the newly created Kapchorwa Municipality constituency in the Parliament.
On 6 June 2016, he was appointed as Cabinet Minister of Water and Environment. Among his priorities as a member of parliament are: (a) to establish an irrigation system in the constituency to boost agricultural production, (b) to assist in the creation of a university in the sub-region, (c) to assist in the re-establishment of “Elgon Cooperative Union”, and (d) to establish a water and sewerage system in Kapchorwa Municipality.
Business interests
Cheptoris is the proprietor of Kapchrowa Standard Academy, a secondary school in Kapchorwa District and Cheminy Standard Academy, a secondary school in neighboring Kween District.
Edward Katumba Wamala
Alias Katumba Wamala, he is an army general who serves as Minister of Works and Transport in the Ugandan cabinet, since 14 December 2019.
Before that, from 17 January 2017 until 14 December 2019, he served as Minister of State for Works in the Ugandan cabinet. He previously served as the chief of defense forces of Uganda, the highest military rank in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), from 2013 until 2017.
He was the commander of land forces in the UPDF from 2005 to 2013. He also served as the inspector general of police (IGP) of the Uganda Police Force (UPF), the highest rank in that branch of Uganda’s government, from 2001 until 2005.
Wamala was the first active UPDF soldier to serve as the head of the UPF. On June 1, 2021, Katumba survived an assassination attempt in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb when gunmen attacked and wounded the General, killing his daughter and driver, leaving him with gunshot wounds on both shoulders.
Background
He was born on 19 November 1956 in Bweeza, Kalangala District, Ssese Islands.
Education
Katumba holds a certificate in agriculture. In 2007, he graduated from Nkumba University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and diplomacy. He also holds a Master’s degree of Science in strategic leadership from the United States Army War College. He has military qualifications from the following military schools: Uganda Military Academy, Tanzania Military Academy, a military academy in the Soviet Union, Nigerian Command and Staff College, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and United States Army War College.
Career
Wamala was an officer in the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) when the National Resistance Army (NRA) defeated the UNLA in 1986. He transitioned into the NRA without incident.
Between 1999 and 2000, he was a student at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Between 2000 and 2001, at the rank of major general, he commanded the UPDF forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was appointed IGP in 2001, serving in that capacity until 2005.
He was then promoted to lieutenant general and given the title of commander of land forces, based at Bombo Military Barracks, making him one of the highest senior officers in the Ugandan military. In his role as commander of the land forces, he was closely engaged in the peace-keeping mission that the UPDF performs in Somalia, commonly referred to as AMISOM. On 23 May 2013, he was promoted to the rank of four-star general and appointed chief of defence forces.
MINISTERS OF STATE
Peter Ogwang
Born 15 December 1983, he is Minister of State for Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance in the Ugandan Cabinet sine 14 December 2019. He is also the elected Member of Parliament for Usuk County in Katakwi District since the 10th Parliament.
Background and education
He attended Moruapesur Primary School and Soroti Secondary School, for his O-Level studies, obtaining a Uganda Certificate of Education from there. He transferred to Tororo Progressive Academy, where he completed his A-Level education, graduating with a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, in 2001.
He holds a Certificate and a Diploma in Social Work and Social Administration, both awarded by Makerere Institute for Social Development (affiliated with Makerere University Business School). As of February 2020, he was pursuing a degree of Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration from Victoria University Uganda.
Career
From 2007 until 2010, Ogwang was employed as an Assistant Private Secretary to the President of Uganda at State House. In 2011, he successfully contested for the Eastern Uganda Youth Parliamentary seat, on the ruling National Resistance Movement political party ticket. He won and represented the youth in the 9th Parliament (2011-2016).
Rose Lilly Akello
She was born on 23 December 1971 and is a Ugandan politician and social worker representing Karenga District as the district woman member of parliament in the eleventh parliament. In the ninth and tenth parliament, she served as the district woman member of parliament representing Kaabong District. Rose opted to represent Karenga District instead of Kaabong district when Karenga was carved out of Kaabong on 1 July 2019.
She became the Kaabong District Woman MP after winning a by-election in 2017 against Ms Christine Tubo Nakwang. She is affiliated to the ruling political party, NRM.
Education
In 1986, she completed her Primary Leaving Examinations from Kotido Mixed Primary School. She attained her Uganda Certificate of Education from Kangole Girls S.S. in 1990. She later joined Moroto High School and completed Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 1993. She got a diploma in Hotel Management Studies in 1996 from National College of Business Studies, Nakawa.
In 2004, she also completed a diploma in Social Work and Social Administration from Nsamizi Institute of Social Development. In 2013, she obtained Bachelor of Democracy and Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University. Rose was admitted for a Certificate in Political Science and Administration in China and completed it in 2014.
Work experience
Between 1993 and 1994, she worked as a teacher Komukuny Girls Primary School. From 2000 to 2010, she served as a member of Kaabong District Service Commission. From 1995 to 2002, she worked at Karamoja Development Agency, Office of the President as the Senior Stores Assistant. She also served as a member at Kotido District Tender Board between 2002 and 2005. From 2003 to date, she serves as the director of Mowoin Women’s Group, Kaabong District. In 2007, she was employed as the Project Assistant of Oxfam GB, Kotido Field Office.
Political career
From 2011 to date, Rose served as the member of parliament, Kaabong District, and Karenga District.
Diana Nankunda Mutasingwa
Also referred to as Diana Mutasingwa Kagyenyi, she is a politician, currently Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President of Uganda. On May 19, 2021, Mutasingwa was sworn in as the Buikwe District Woman Member of Parliament under the National Resistance Movement political party replacing Judith Babirye.
Background and education
She is a resident of Bukaya in Njeru division and born to Charles Mutasingwa.
She completed her primary school from Kampala Parent’s School. She later joined Greenhill Academy for both Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). She was awarded a diploma and a degree from Hertfordshire International College.
Life before politics
She was employed as the Human Resource Manager at Afro Freight Clearing and Forwarding Company before joining politics.
Political career
Before contesting as Buikwe’s Woman Member of Parliament, she first contested for Njeru Municipality mayor in 2019, but was defeated by Yasin Kyazze. Buikwe district had never had a minister until when President Museveni appointed Diana as the State Minister in the Office of the Vice President. She was appointed as the Buikwe District Football Associations brand ambassador in Uganda and she became the official sponsor for the District Football Associations for the next five year starting in 2021.
Davinia Esther Anyakun
She is a politician and a procurement and logistics professional. She has been the woman Member of Parliament for Nakapiripirit District since 2016.
Background and education
Anyakun was born on 19 April 1976 in Nakapiripirit District in Karamoja subregion. She started school in Nkoyoyo boarding primary and sat for her Primary Leaving Examinations in 1991. She later enrolled at Kangole Senior Secondary School and sat for her Uganda Certificate of Education exams in 1995. She sat her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education exams in 1999 from Mbale secondary school.
In 2002 she graduated with a diploma in social work and social administration from the Makerere Institute for Social Development. Esther Anyukan furthered her studies and in 2009 graduated with a diploma in health administration from Uganda Christian University and added a bachelor’s degree in procurement and logistics from Nkumba University in 2009.
Early career
Anyukun started her formal work from Amudat Hospital in 2004 as a senior hospital administrator which she did till 2010. In 2010 she joined the International Organization for Migration as a project officer. In 2013 started working with Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance and the United States Agency for International Development as a regional coordinator until 2015. In 2016 she was elected to the Parliament of Uganda for Nakapiripit District.
Political career
Anyakun is the woman Member of Parliament for Nakapiripiriti District. She entered the Parliament of Uganda in May 2016 running on the National Resistance Movement party ticket. In Parliament, she serves on served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
She is also a member of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA).
Personal life
Challa Elma Kapel, her daughter, became Miss Tourism Uganda in 2017.
Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny
Alias Grace Kwiyucwiny, is a politician who serves as the State Minister for Northern Uganda since 6 June 2016. She also served as the woman Member of Parliament representing the Zombo District.
Background and education
She was born in Zombo District, West Nile sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda. She attended Lower Zombo Primary School and Warr Girls School for her Uganda Certificate of Education(UCE), before transferring to Tororo Girls School for her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education(UACE). She studied at Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and a Master of Business Administration.
Career
She is an active community leader in her district, especially among women. She previously served as the chairperson of Nebbi women’s community. She contested for the Nebbi Women’s seat in parliament before and had lost. She contested again in Zombo District, after the two districts split and she won in 2011 and re-elected in 2016.
Energy Ministry Orders UEDCL Board to Investigate Top Management Over Performance GapsShe lost in 2020 polls for Women’s representative in the Parliament of Uganda for Zombo District. She was the first Woman Constituency Member of Parliament that Zombo District elected, since it was carved out of Nebbi District in 2009. On 6 June 2016, she was appointed State Minister for Northern Uganda.
Duties
One of the tasks she was handed as State Minister for Northern Uganda, was her selection to the committee to investigate the alleged plunder of Zoka Forest in Adjumani District. The four-person team, was selected by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, and is chaired by Mary Karooro Okurut, the Cabinet Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister. Other members are Betty Amongi, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Sam Cheptoris, the Minister for Water and Environment.
Agnes Nandutu
She is a journalist, politician and Minister in charge of Karamoja. In 2020 she participated in the National Resistance Movement Party primaries which she lost to incumbent Woman MP Justin Khainza, and in the 2021 general election, running as an independent, she was elected Women’s Representative for Bududa District.
Career
Nandutu was born in Bududa District, Uganda. She was a senior political reporter at NTV Uganda. Nandutu was also a moderator and a speaker for NTV citizen debate show called “The People’s Parliament.”
She served as the president of the Parliamentary Journalist’s Association from 2011 to 2016. She scripts and narrates the Popular satire Friday segment called Point Blank on NTV Uganda. In 2011, she received a Christmas gift from The Observer for her NTV show, Point Blank.
Background and education
Nandutu belongs to the Bantu ethnic group who are the Gisu people. She attended Bumwali primary school for her elementary education, she then joined Bbulo girls secondary and later Blucheke secondary school for her high school education.
In 1997, she joined Radio Uganda as a reporter. Later, she pursued a diploma in Journalism at Uganda Institute of Journalism and Media studies. She worked at Daily Monitor as a freelance reporter. Between 2002 and 2008, Nandutu worked at Impact FM as a staff reporter before she joined NTV Uganda.
Alice Kaboyo
She is the State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister for Luweero Triangle and Rwenzori Region. She is the former State House aide.
Political career
Before Kaboyo became the minister, her appointment was rejected over integrity and corruption issues. However, her name was returned to the Parliament for approval. The Appointments Committee was chaired by then Deputy Speaker Anita Among who rejected Alice’s appointment on the basis of her conviction by the Anti-Corruption Court in 2012.
She was charged for abuse of office when she got involved in a corruption scandal on funding from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). She was charged with three former health ministers, Jim Muhwezi, his deputies, Mike Mukula and Alex Kamugisa.
Jenipher Kacha Namuyangu
Commonly referred to as Jennifer Namuyangu, she is a Ugandan politician and environmentalist. She is the Minister of State for Local Government in the Ugandan Cabinet. She was appointed to that position on 6 June 2016. She previously served as the Minister of State for Water Resources, from 1 June 2006 until 27 May 2011.
In the Cabinet reshuffle on 27 May 2011, she was dropped from the cabinet and was replaced by Betty Bigombe. She also served as the elected Member of Parliament for Pallisa District Women’s Representative, from 2001 until 2011.
In 2010, when Pallisa District was split into two, to create Kibuku District, Namuyangu contested for the parliamentary seat of Kibuku County, Kibuku District. She lost to Saleh Kamba by a wide margin.
Background and education
Namuyangu was born in Kibuku District on 27 July 1968.
She attended Kibuku Secondary School for her O-Level studies, before she transferred to Iganga Secondary School, where she completed her A-Level education. She was admitted to Makerere University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Forestry, in 1993. Her Master of Science in Agroforestry was also obtained from Makerere University, in 1996.
Career
From 1994 until 1996, she served as the Youth Representative for Eastern Uganda to the National Resistance Council, the parliamentary institution at that time. From 1997 until 1998, she served as a Lecturer at Nyabyeya Forestry College in Masindi District. She then joined the Ministry of Lands and the Environment, in the Forestry Department, as a Seed Source Development Officer, serving in that capacity from 1998 until 2001.
In 2001, she rejoined politics and was elected to Represent the Women of Pallisa District in parliament. She was again re-elected to the same position in 2006. Between 2003 and 2006, she served as Minister of State for Industry. She was appointed as State Minister for Water Resources on 1 June 2006, serving in that capacity until 27 May 2011. Between 2013 and 2016, she was a member head Committee of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Namuyangu is one of several government ministers and National Resistance Movement MPs who lost in their party primaries and defied President Museveni’s directive, to not stand as independents, and instead offered themselves to stand as independent parliamentary candidates 2011. She contested against fellow NRM member, Saleh Kamba (the then incumbent MP and NRM flag bearer) for the “Kibuku County” seat, losing by a very wide margin.
Return to parliament and to cabinet
During the 2016 parliamentary elections, Namuyangu contested for the Kabweri County Constituency, on the NRM Party ticket. She won and is the incumbent. On 6 June 2016, she was appointed State Minister for Local Government.
Minister of State, Office of the Prime Minister (Teso Affairs) Dr. Ongalo-Obote
Bwino Kyakulaga Fred
He was born on 22nd June 1964 and is the Minister of State for Agriculture.
He has a Doctorate in Public Administration from Uganda Management Institute and a Master Degree in Procurement from Makerere University.
Kyakulaga is a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) political party representing Kigulu County North and a member of the Science and Technology committee.
His office is located at Nawandula Trading Center and his political assistant is called Sillingisi Anthony (0781381119).
Kyakulaga has supported the construction of pit latrines and provided scholastic materials to school-going children.
Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama
He is a politician and retired army officer. He is the minister for animal industry since 1 June 2006. In the cabinet reshuffle of 16 February 2009, that of 27 May 2011, and that of 1 March 2015, he retained his cabinet post. He also serves as the elected Member of Parliament representing “Isingiro County North”, Isingiro District. He has served in that capacity continuously since 2001.
Background and education
Rwamirama was born in Isingiro District on 16 December 1954. He attended Omungyenyi Primary School for his elementary education, Mbarara High School for his O-Level education and Kololo High School for his A-Level studies. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Business Administration (1996) and Master of Business Administration (2004), from Makerere University. His Certificate in Management was awarded in 1993, also by Makerere.
He also attended the British Junior Staff College, studying the Junior Command and Staff Course and Naval Postgraduate School, studying the Resource Management Course. He obtained certificates from both courses.
Career
From 1978 until 1983, Rwamirama worked as a Banking Officer at Uganda Commercial Bank, the institution that later became Stanbic Bank Uganda. In 1983, he joined the National Resistance Army (NRA), in the Uganda Bush War to dislodge Milton Obote from power.
He was appointed Officer in Charge of Pay in the NRA in 1986, serving in that capacity until 1989. In 1989, he was promoted to Director of Finance, in the NRA, which was renamed Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), in 1995. He served in that capacity at the UPDF headquarters, until 1997.
He continued to serve as one of the Senior Staff Officers at UPDF Headquarters, until 2001. In 2001, he retired from the Armed Forces at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He joined politics, contesting for the parliamentary seat of “Isingiro County North”, in Isingiro District. He won that seat and was re-elected to the same position in 2006 and 2011. He was appointed Minister of State for Animal Industry in June 2006, a position he still occupies.
Born on 25 January 1977, she serves as the State Minister for Fisheries.
Hellen Adoa
She is also the Member of Parliament representing the women in Serere District.
Background and education
She was born in Serere District, in the Teso sub-region, in the Eastern Region of Uganda, on 25 January 1977. She attended Kelim Primary School and also studied at Ngora Girls Secondary School, for her O-Level studies, graduating with a Uganda Certificate of Education, in 1992. In 1995, she completed her A-Level education at Ngora High School, graduating with a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.
She has two diplomas; one a Diploma in Business Studies, was awarded by Victoria Business Institute, Tororo, and the other is a Diploma in Education Management, from Uganda Martyrs University. Her first degree, a Bachelor of Democracy and Development Studies and her second degree, a Master of Local Governance and Human Rights, were both awarded by Uganda Martyrs University.
Career before politics
For a period of 15 years, from the beginning of 2001 until the end of 2015, Adoa served as director at various early childhood and elementary educational institutions, some of them co-owned by her. She also is a director at Halcyon High School.
Political career
She entered elective politics by contesting for the Serere District Women Constituency parliamentary seat in 2016. She was elected, and is the current substantive member of parliament for that Serere District. She subscribes to the ruling National Resistance Movement political party.
Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi
Hev is a Ugandan politician who serves as the incumbent Member of Parliament representing the Kyaka South County Constituency, Kyegegwa District.
Effective 14 December 2019, he concurrently serves as the Deputy Attorney General of Uganda.
Background and education
He was born in Kyegegwa District, in the Toro sub-region, in the Western Region of Uganda, on 25 April 1977. He attended St. Joseph’s Primary School, Nabbingo. He studied at St. Maria Goretti Secondary School, for his O-Level studies, graduating with a Uganda Certificate of Education, in 1995. In 1998, he completed his A-Level education, graduating with a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.
He was admitted to Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. The following year, he obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Centre, in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, and was admitted to the Uganda Bar.
Career before politics
For a period of 13 years, from 2003 until 2016, Jackson Kafuuzi was an attorney at Rwakafuuzi & Company Advocates, a Kampala-based legal firm.
Political career
He entered Uganda’s elective politics by contesting for the Kyaka South County Constituency parliamentary seat in 2011 on FDC ticket but lost to an NRM candidate who had quite teaching at Makerere university. He later chose to run on an NRM ticket in 2016 after realizing the hefty mistakes made by his predecessor abandoning the latter.
Jacob Marksons Oboth
Commonly known as Jacob Oboth-Oboth was born 13 April 1971. He is a Ugandan lawyer, intellectual property (IP) expert and politician. He is the elected Member of Parliament for West Budama County South.
He also serves as the State minister for defence (general duties). Oboth-Oboth is the current chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the former chairperson of the parliamentary Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges and the Committee on Natural Resources. He is a serving member of the parliamentary Business Committee.
Early life and education
Oboth-Oboth was born in Tororo District Eastern Uganda in an Anglican family. A down-to-earth person, he did odd jobs to make ends meet in his childhood. From fetching water for a fee for locals to store keeping, he did it all. He attended Muwafu Primary School for his primary school education and St. Denis Ssebugwawo Secondary School for his O-level academic qualifications.
At one time, Oboth-Oboth was picked up by American missionaries from Tororo streets after being sent away from school for lack of tuition. It was a difficult time for him but during his time with the missionaries, he worked as a store keeper on top of doing other petty jobs for two years before joining Tororo High School for his A-Level education. Oboth-Oboth was admitted to Makerere University in 1997 to study Law. Subsequently, he enrolled for a management certificate course at Uganda Management Institute.
In 2001, Oboth-Oboth graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree and then in 2002, he acquired a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from Law Development Centre. In 2004, he acquired two certifications from the International Development Law Organization; one in Intellectual Property and another in Public Procurement. He also has a Master of Law degree (2007) in election and cyber law from the University of Minnesota.
Career
After graduating as a lawyer, Oboth-Oboth served as the Deputy Attorney General for Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution. He also secured employment in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs as a state attorney. He worked in Mbale for some time as the State Attorney Mbale Regional Office before going to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in election and cyber law at the University of Minnesota.
Upon his return in 2007, Oboth-Oboth resumed his work in government until 2010 when he resigned to join active politics. His stay in the US had enabled him to acquire donors who offered to initiate projects in his constituency, and that in a way helped sway voters to his side. He found it easy to reach out to the poor in his constituency because he was seen as one of them.
Jacob Oboth-Oboth was first elected as West Budama South MP (Independent) in 2011 after defeating the then State Minister for Labor, Dr Emmanuel Otaala, who subsequently but unsuccessfully challenged his victory in the Courts of law. He retained his seat in 2016 after polling 20,653 votes against the NRM candidate, Phibby Awere Otaala’s 19, 462 votes. Oboth-Oboth set the record for being the first legislator to be elected for a second successive term in this constituency which had not re-elected an incumbent MP to Parliament since 1996.
In the 9th Parliament, Oboth-Oboth was the chairperson of the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges and the parliamentary ad hoc committee to investigate the electricity sub sector; the Committee on Natural Resources. In the 10th Parliament, he is the chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and a member of the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges and the Business Committee.
Huda Abason Oleru
He is a Ugandan Politician and legislator who was the Women Member of Parliament Representative for Yumbe District in the Eighth and Ninth parliament of Uganda. She is the Minister of State for Veteran Affairs.
Early life and education
Huda was (born 3 December 1975) to Ayub Adiga (father) and Drakai Khadija (mother) of Pania village, Kophi sub-county in Yumbe district. Huda went to Limidia Primary School before joining Yumbe Secondary School. She then Joined Mvara Secondary School. After her secondary education, Huda joined Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) where she attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. Before joining Politics, Huda also attained a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Management.
Career
Huda worked as a teacher at Aringa Primary School and she was also the secretary for the youth of Romogi sub-county before joining politics. She was also the National Resistance Council Youth general secretary in Romogi Sub-county in 1996. Between 1996-1998, she was a teacher at Limitia Primary School. She was the Community Facilitator with Community Actor Programme between 1998 to 2000. Between 2000 to 2003, Huda was the Investment chairperson for Lulu sub-county.
Maggie Magode Ikuya
Sometimes referred to as James Magode Ikuya, he is a politician and activist. He is the State Minister for East African Community Affairs.
Career
Maggie has worked with Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), FRONASA and National Resistance Movement (NRM). When he was appointed as the Sate Minister, he mentioned that his appointment was an indication that the voice of the people who had been involved in the liberation struggle has finally been heard by the government.
John Chrysestom Muyingo
He is a Ugandan educator and politician, the State Minister for Higher Education since 6 June 2016. He previously served as the State Minister for Primary Education from 1 March 2015 until 5 June 2016. Before that, from 27 May 2011 until 1 March 2015, he served as the State Minister for Higher Education, having replaced Mwesigwa Rukutana in May 2011. Muyingo was also the elected Member of Parliament for Bamunanika County, Luweero DistrictHe lost the seat to opposition NUP candidate in the 2021 general elections.
Background and education
Muyingo was born on 22 February 1960 to John Chrysestom Ssekidde of Kakoola Village, Bamunanika County, Luwero District and Victoria Nakiwala of Naakulabye, Lubaga Division, in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. He attended the Mulajje Primary School, Kisubi Seminary, and Makerere College School, before joining Makerere University in 1983.
He graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science with a Diploma in Education. He also holds a Master of Arts in Educational Management, obtained in 1996, and a Doctor of Philosophy obtained in 2004, both from Makerere University. The dissertation for his doctorate focused on the financing of university education in Uganda.
Career
Muyingo started his teaching career at Ndejje Secondary School where he taught chemistry and mathematics. He later taught at St. Joseph’s School Nsambya where he became director of studies. He was then transferred to St. Joseph Secondary School Naggalama, in Naggalama, Mukono District.
At Naggalama, he became headmaster when the school was still O-Level only (S1 – S4). He started a boarding section for boys at Naggalama Hill, despite initial reservations by the school board. He then started an A-Level section at the school (S5 – S6). From Naggalama, he was transferred in 1992 to Uganda Martyrs’ Secondary School Namugongo, located adjacent to the Uganda Martyrs Shine at Namugongo.
When he arrived at Namugongo, his first challenge was to upgrade and improve the school, then in a sorry state. The teachers would go home on Friday and return on Monday, leaving students on their own over the weekend. The infrastructure was poor, the classes inadequate, and there was no serious science lab. Male teachers were fraternising with female students.
The school’s Board of Governors had little interest in the school. Gradually, the new headmaster’s efforts paid off. The year before he joined, the school had registered five first grades at O-level. In 1992, the number rose to 32, then 58 in 1993, 64 in 1994 and 90 in 1995. Henceforth, the numbers steadily rose with some years registering a 100 percent first grade pass rate. He served in that capacity from 1992 until 2010.
Political career
In 2011, Muyingo entered active politics by contesting for the parliamentary seat of Bamunanika County in Luweero District, as an Independent. He won that seat with 92 percent of the votes cast. He lost the seat to NUP candidate in the 2021 general elections.
He has various ongoing projects in his constituency aimed at boosting the livelihood of his people. He is assisted by Mwebe William, Matabi Christopher, and Bazira Paul who lead the coordination team. They have steered a number of successful projects such as a pioneer elderly project the only of that kind in Uganda, a scholarship scheme called BACEF headed by Ssenyonjo Moses, the director of St. Mary’s College Lugazi and assisted by Matabi Christopher and Bazira Paul. It has helped over 2500 less privileged students to access secondary education.
He was appointed State Minister for Higher Education on 27 May 2011. After a brief stint as State Minister for Primary Education, from March 2015 until June 2016, he was re-appointed to the position of State Minister for Higher Education on 6 June 2016.
Joyce Moriku
Also called Joyce Kaducu, she was born on 21 April 1969. She is a paediatrician, academic and politician and state Minister for Primary education in the new cabinet starting 2021. Previously she was in the Minister of State for Primary Health Care in the Ugandan Cabinet. She was appointed to that position on 6 June 2016, replacing Sarah Achieng Opendi, who became State Minister for Health, General Duties. She also serves as the elected Member of Parliament for Moyo District Women Representative in the 10th Parliament (2016 to 2021).
Background and education
Dr. Moriku was born in Moyo District, West Nile sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda, on 21 April 1969. She attended Laropi Primary School for her elementary education. She studied at Metu Senior Secondary School, in Moyo, for her O-Level education, before she transferred to Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School in Gulu for her A-Level studies.
In 1997, she was admitted to Mbarara University School of Medicine to study Human Medicine, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 2002. In 2005 she received a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Gulu University. She then entered Makerere University School of Medicine at Mulago, where she obtained the Master of Medicine in Pediatrics in 2008. Still later, in 2015, Gulu University awarded her a PhD in Neuroscience.
Medical career
Following her first degree, she worked as an intern at Lacor Hospital in Gulu, from 2002 until 2003. Between 2003 and 2005, she worked as the medical coordinator for The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), based in Gulu. From 2005 until 2008, she worked as a Senior House Officer at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Following that, she worked as the Medical Director, for one year at Mildmay Clinic on Entebbe Road, from 2008 until 2009. From 2010 until 2015, she worked as a lecturer in paediatrics at Gulu University and concurrently served as a consultant paediatrician at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
Political career
In 2016, she entered elective politics by contesting for the Moyo District Women’s Constituency. She won and is the incumbent in the 10th Parliament (2016 to 2021). On 6 June 2016, she was appointed State Minister for Primary Health Care.
Denis Hamson Obua
He is a Ugandan politician, who serves as the Minister of State for Sports. He also concurrently serves as the incumbent Member of Parliament representing Ajuri County, Alebtong District.
Background and education
He was born in Alebtong District on 6 February 1980. He attended Inomo Primary School, before transferring to Lango College, in Lira, where he completed both his O-Level and A-Level education, and obtained his Uganda Certificate of Education in 1997 and a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, in 1999.
He has a Diploma in Law and a Certificate in Administrative Law, both obtained from the Law Development Centre, in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. His Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Administration was obtained from Uganda Christian University, in Mukono. His Master of Public Administration degree was awarded by Uganda Management Institute in 2016.
Career
From 2000 until 2003, Denis was employed as a contracts clerk at British American Tobacco. For the next two years, he served as a legal assistant at Atim and Company Advocates. He was then hired as a Senior Clerical Officer, responsible for legal duties, in the Office of the Vice President of Uganda, serving in that capacity from 2005 until 2006.
In 2006, he was elected to the 8th Parliament (2006 – 2011), to represent Ajuri County, in Alebtong District. He has been continuously re-elected in 2011 and 2016 and is the incumbent MP.
In a cabinet reshuffle, on 14 December 2019, Denis Obua was named to the cabinet. He replaced Charles Bakkabulindi, who was dropped from cabinet. After parliamentary approval, he swore in as State Minister for Sports, on 13 January 2020.
Okaasai Sidronius Opolot
Aged 64, he is the Minister of State for Energy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Protection, Major from AL- Fateh University, Tripoli Libya and a Master’s of Science Degree in Plant Disease Management obtained from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth United Kingdom.
He has vast knowledge and experience in public administration and is an expert in Crop Science, Epidemic control in crops and crop resources having worked in the Agricultural Sector from 1983 at various levels up to the position of Director, Crop Resources.
He retired from public service 2018 on attaining mandatory retirement age of 60 years. He is a Member of Parliament of Kumi County in Eastern Uganda since 2021 and a Minister of State for Energy.
He is passionate about the progress of Uganda’s petroleum and energy sectors and believes in their potential to cause socio-economic transformation. In this regard, he was instrumental in the passing of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)Act, 2021 to facilitate the EACOP project in Uganda and is currently guiding the amendment of the Electricity Act to reform and improve the Electricity sector in the Country.
Peter Aimat Lokeris
He is a Ugandan politician and accountant serving as the current Minister of State for Minerals since 16 February 2009. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, and that of 1 March 2015, Peter Lokeris retained his cabinet post. He is also the elected Member of Parliament representing Chekwii County in Nakapiripirit District. He has continuously represented that constituency since 1996.
Background and education
He was born in Pian county in Nakapiripirit District on 2 February 1947 to Teko Apo-oroma Namoni-Angitiang and his wife Aisu Elizabeth. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Commerce from Makerere University. He also holds a Diploma in Finance from the Uganda Management Institute in Kampala. He also holds a Master of Science in Marketing) from Makerere University and another Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies from the same university.
Work experience
Peter Lokeris started his working career as a cashier. He also worked as an Internal Auditor for Moroto District. He then worked as the Chief Accountant for Kotido District. Following that, he served as the Administrative Secretary for Moroto District for a period of four years. Lokeris also served as a special district administrator in the districts of Moroto, Kasese and Jinja. Later, he served as a special presidential advisor on peace and development of Karamoja and its neighbouring regions for four years.
In 1996, he entered politics, contesting and winning the parliamentary seat of Chekwii County in Nakapiripirit District. During that same year, he was appointed as Minister of State for Karamoja. He maintained that position during a cabinet reshuffle on 13 January 2005.
In 2006, he was re-elected to his parliamentary seat. On 1 June 2006, he was appointed as Minister of State for Primary Education. In another cabinet reshuffle, Peter Lokeris was appointed Minister of State for Minerals on 16 February 2009. Lokeris was re-elected as member of parliament for Chekwi county on 18 February 2011. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he retained his cabinet post as State Minister for Minerals.
Henry Ariganyira Musasizi
Born 25 February 1981, he is a business administrator, certified public accountant and politician. He is the re-elected Member of Parliament for Rubanda County East and a representative for NRM, the ruling political party in Uganda.
Musasizi was the chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development and a member of the Business Committee in the 10th Parliament of Uganda. He is the Chairperson NRM Rubanda District. He also served on the Public Accounts Committee in the 9th Parliament of the Pearl of Africa.
Early life and education
Musasizi was born in Rubanda, Kabale District in a Catholic family of the Bakiga. He had his primary education in his home district of Kabale acquiring his PLE certification in 1994. He then attended Kigezi College Butobere for his O-Level education, attaining his UCE certification in 1998, and the same school for his A-Level education where he acquired his UACE certification in 2000.
Musasizi further advanced to Makerere University where he graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He then pursued a postgraduate certificate at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) and became a certified public accountant in 2009. In 2012, Musasizi attained a Master of Business Administration from Heriot-Watt University, a public university based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Career
Upon acquiring his bachelor’s degree in 2005, Musasizi worked for a year as an accountant with Caritas-Kabale Diocese, the social services and development department of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kabale. In 2007, he got employment at the African Medical and Research Foundation, AMREF, and still worked as an accountant up-to 2010 when he resigned to join elective politics.
In 2011, Musasizi bid for the Rubanda County East parliamentary seat on the NRM ticket, and went on to win in both the party’s primaries and in the general elections and became a member of Uganda’s 9th Parliament.
In 2016, Musasizi won re-election and continues to serve the constituents of Rubanda County East in the 10th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. In the 9th Parliament, heserved on the Public Accounts Committee. In the 10th Parliament of Uganda, he was the chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development and is a member of the Business Committee.
On June 8th, 2021, Musasizi was appointed by H.E. Yoweri Museveni as the State Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in charge of General Duties.
Lugoloobi Amos
The State Minister of Finance for Planning was born on the 21st of June, 1961.
Lugoloobi holds a bachelor of Science degree in economics from Makerere University, Kampala, and a master’s of Business Administration from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI).
He is a member of the NRM party representing Ntenjeru North in the Kayunga district and an active member of the Business Committee, the committee of finance, planning, and economic development, and the Budget Committee.
Lugoolobi established his constituency offices in two areas -at Kayunga Town Council, Kayunga central, and in Busana Town Council to easily connect with his electorates. Mr. Kangave David is his political assistant (+256774366655).
He runs a number of personally initiated projects relating to clean water, health, education and games & sports, livelihood enhancement, such as borehole repair & construction, student sponsorships, supporting sports activities, livelihood initiatives.
Evelyn Anite Kajik
Commonly known as Evelyn Anite, is a journalist and politician. She is the State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization in the Ugandan Cabinet since 6 June 2016. Previously, she served as State Minister for Youth. She was appointed to that position on 1 March 2015, replacing Ronald Kibuule, who was appointed State Minister for Water Resources.
She also served as the elected Member of Parliament for Koboko Municipality, in the West Nile sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda.
In the 2020 National resistance movement (NRM) flag bearer elections, Anite lost her bit to retain the seat of MP Koboko municipality, Dr Charles Ayume son of former speaker of the Ugandan parliament, Francis Ayume.
Background and education
Anite was born on 11 November 1984, in Adakado Village, Koboko District, to Steven Dravu, a civil servant, and Sarah Wokoru Dravu, a businesswoman. She belongs to the Lugbara-speaking Ugandans whose native area spills into the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is fluent in both Lugbara and Kakwa languages.
She attended Arua Hill Primary School for her elementary school education. She studied at Saint Mary’s Ediofe Secondary School for her O-Level studies. She transferred to Muni Girls’ Secondary School, for her A-Level education. She holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, awarded by Uganda Christian University in 2008.
In January 2018, Evelyn Anite was admitted to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, in the United States, to pursue the Master in International Relations and Diplomacy Programme. In July 2019, Anite graduated from Tufts University, having met all the requirements for the Master of Arts program.
Career
Right out of high school in 2005, Anite started working as a radio presenter at a radio station in Arua, continuing in that capacity intermittently until 2007. Beginning in 2006 and continuing until 2010, she worked as a radio presenter at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation in Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city.
From 2008 until 2010, she worked at the Uganda Media Centre as the Public Affairs Assistant for International Relations. In 2011, she contested for the parliamentary seat of Youth Representative for Northern Uganda. She beat nine other candidates to win the seat. She is the current incumbent. On 6 June 2016, she was named State Minister for Investment and Privatization.
Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune
He is a politician who serves as the State Minister for Microfinance since 6 June 2016. He concurrently served as the elected parliamentary representative for Kyotera County, Rakai District, in the 10th Ugandan Parliament (2016–2021). He was succeeded in parliament by John Paul Mpalanyi Lukwago, a member of the Democratic Party (DP) after the 2021 Uganda general elections.
Fred Byamukama
He is the state minister for works. He was a serving Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier at the rank of lieutenant before joining politics in March last year.
Byamukama was born in Kikwaya village, Kikwaya sub-county in Kakumiro district to Mzee Karoli Kamanyire and Evelyn Nyakato on June 3, 1992.
He attended Kikwaya Primary School before joining Mandela S.S Hoima, for both O’ and A’level.
He holds a bachelor’s of science in anaesthesia medicine from Busitema University.
He also holds a diploma in nursing from the Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery and a certificate in enrolled comprehensive nursing from Kabale School of Comprehensive Nursing.
Byamukama has been working with the UPDF specialised units under the Chieftaincy of Medical Services for seven years. He retired on March 29, last year.
He defeated state minister for economic monitoring Dr Kasirivu Atwooki, to represent the people of Bugangaizi.
He is married to Gladys Kemirembe with whom he has three children.
Musa Francis Ecweru
Born 25 November 1964, Ecweru is an accountant and politician and the current Minister of State for Works and Transport (Works).
He previously served as the State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness since 1st June 2006 In the cabinet reshuffles of 16 February 2009, 27 May 2011, and 2016. He is also the elected Member of Parliament (MP), representing Amuria County, Amuria District since 2006.
Early life and education
Musa Ecweru was born in Amuria District, Eastern Uganda, on 25 November 1964. He is the third born of the ten children of William Ecweru. From 1971, Musa attended Angole/Wera Primary School, graduating in 1979.
In 1980, he entered Teso College Aloet for his secondary education. After his secondary education, he joined Bukalasa Agricultural College to study about cooperatives but he could not complete his studies due to the insurgency that erupted at Luwero Triangle.
He then moved on to stay at the home of Colonel William Omaria Lo Arapai, a prominent Teso politician during the Milton Obote II regime. Colonel Omaria sent him to study accounting at Nkumba University, then known as Nkumba College. He graduated from that institution with the Diploma in Accounting.
Later, he obtained the Certificate in Human Resources Management, from Uganda Management Institute, in Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city. Musa Ecweru also holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Democracy & Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University in Nkozi, Mpigi District.
Career
From 1986 until 1992, he worked as an Accounts Clerk at Aracil Concrete Products, a Ugandan business in Amuria. Between 1992 and 1993, he served as the Local Defence Commander (LDU), Teso sub-region. Between 1993 and 1994, he served as the Deputy Resident Commissioner (DRDC) in Soroti District. He was transferred to Lira District in 1994, as the Deputy Resident Commissioner, serving in that capacity until 1998.
In 1998 he was promoted to Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and transferred to Nebbi District, serving there until 2000. He was transferred to Gulu District as RDC in 2000, serving there until 2002.
He also served as RDC for Kasese District, from 2002 until 2004 and for Soroti District between 2004 and 2006. Since 2003, he has served as Chief of the Arrow Auxiliary Force, a volunteer force that protected civilians from the ravages of the Lords Resistance Army.
In 2006, he successfully contested for the parliamentary seat of Amuria County in Amuria District. He was re-elected in March 2011, March 2016 and March 2021 as is the incumbent MP.
Aisha Sekindi
She was born on 4 December 1970. She is a Ugandan educator and legislator who serves as Minister of State for Water and the woman representative for Kalungu district in Uganda’s eleventh parliament. She held the same position in Uganda’s tenth parliament. Politically, she is affiliated to the National Resistance Movement under whose ticket she contested in the 2016 general election, achieving victory over Aisha Naluyati Waligo.
Background and education
Aisha Sekindi attended Kyato Muslim Primary School which she left in 1984 to join Kadugala Secondary School for her O Levels (Uganda Certificate of Education), which she obtained in 1988. Later on in 1995, she obtained a Teachers Certificate from Kibuli Teacher Training College.
Career
Though Aisha Sekindi started out as a deputy headteacher at Saint Kizito Primary School, Lwengo (1997 to 2001), she moved on to becoming the Local Council V Councillor for Lwabenge and Secretary for Gender with Masaka District Local Government between 2001 and 2007.
Prior to becoming a legislator, Aisha Sekindi served as deputy Resident District Commissioner for Lira district between 2013 and 2014. Before that, she had served in the same position in Tororo District (2011 to 2013) and Kamuli District (2007 to 2011). Between 2010 and 2011, she was the Acting Resident District Commissioner for Buyende district.
Beatrice Atim Anywar
Anywar was born on 9 January 1964 and served as the Member of Parliament representing the Kitgum Municipality Constituency in the 10th Ugandan Parliament (2016 to 2021). Effective 14 December 2019, she concurrently serves as the State Minister for the Environment. She replaced Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu, who was appointed Minister of Energy and Minerals.
Background and education
She was born in Kitgum District, in the Acholi sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda, on 9 January 1964. In 1991, she graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Marketing, from Makerere University Business School. In 2004, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the Islamic University in Uganda.
She holds a Master’s of Public Administration and Management was awarded from Makerere University and a Certificate in Democracy and Good Governance from Marquette University, in the United States.
Career before politics
For a period of over two years, from 1991 until 1993, Beatrice Anywar worked as the Depot Manager at a company called UFEL Uganda. From 1994 and 1995, she worked as Senior Marketing Officer at Vitafoam Uganda Limited, a mattress manufacturing company. After that, she worked in the commercial customer care office of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, serving there for eight years, from 1996 until 2004.
Political career
She joined Uganda’s elective politics by contesting for the Kitgum Municipality Constituency parliamentary seat in 2006. As a Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, she was elected, defeating the National Resistance Movement candidate Santa Okot. She was appointed as the shadow minister for environment, during her first term in parliament, due to her environmental activism.
She became well known for her work to save the Mabira Forest in Uganda. The forest had apparently been up for sale to the sugar company Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) to cut it down and convert it into a sugar cane plantation for ethanol production. Atim fought along with for example the National Association of Professional Environmentalists to stop the felling, and organized a boycott of SCOUL’s sugar.
In 2007, about 100,000 Ugandans demonstrated in a “Save Mabira Crusade” in which three people died and many were injured. Atim Anywar’s house was later besieged by military and police, and she was imprisoned for terrorism.
As an independent politician
During the 2016 parliamentary election cycle, Betty Anywar lost the FDC primaries. She then ran as an independent political candidate and won the parliamentary seat, with a comfortable margin, beating several high-profile opponents.
In December 2017, during the parliamentary vote to remove presidential age limits, Anywar voted “Yes”, to the chagrin of opposition politicians.
On 14 December 2019, she was named in the cabinet of Uganda as the minister of state for Environment.
Persis Princess Namuganza
She is a politician and the State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Lands). Namuganza concurrently serves as the elected representative of Bukono County in Namutumba District, in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021).
Background and education
Persis was born in Namutumba District on 5 October 1984 in an Anglican family. After attending local schools for her primary education, she studied at Mount Elgon High School in Mbale, for her Uganda Certificate of Education which she completed in 1999. She then went to a school in Luweero District, where she sat for her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 2003.
In 2006, Namuganza was awarded a diploma in Accounting by the Makerere Business Institute. That same year, she joined Kyambogo University, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration degree. And in April 2014, she graduated from Cavendish University Uganda with a master’s in international relations.
Career before politics
She began her career in 2009 at Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, a non-governmental organization (NGO), where she served as a Programme officer from 2009-2010. She was transferred to Pearl of Africa Research and Accountability, another NGO, serving as a public relations officer and administrator from 2010 to 2012.
She served as the chairperson Busoga Youth Forum from 2010-2011. She was appointed as a deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Luweero District, serving in that capacity from 2012 to 2015.
Political career
In 2016, she entered competitive elective national politics by contesting the Bukono County Constituency seat in Namutumba District on the National Resistance Movement political party platform. She won and is the incumbent.
Kania Mario Obiga
He is a politician and the State Minister for Internal Affairs since 6 June 2016.
Background and education
He was born on 1 January 1953. He attended Odupi Primary School, where he obtained a Primary Leaving Certificate in 1966. He transferred to St. Aloysius College Nyapea, in present-day Zombo District, graduating in 1970 with an East African Certificate of Education.
He was admitted to St. Mary’s College Kisubi, in Wakiso District, where he graduated with an East African Advanced Certificate of Education in 1972. He then entered Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1976. Later, in 2005 he was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree, by the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute. In addition, he’s an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).
Career
Between 1994 and 1995, Kania Obiga was a delegate to the Constituent Assembly that promulgated Uganda’s 1995 constitution. He was then elected to the Parliament of Uganda, serving in that capacity between 1996 and 2001.
Between 2001 and 2015, he served as the Director of Research at the Secretariat of the National Resistance Movement political party. He was also a member of the Uganda Immigration Board from 2007 until 2011. In 2016, he elected to represent Terego County East, Arua District, on the National Resistance Movement ticket.
In June 2016, he was named State Minister of Internal Affairs, in Uganda’s Cabinet.
State Minister for Lands – Sam Mayanja
Kawoya Bangirana
Born on 21 January 1957 she is a State Minister of Health for General Duties.
Background and education
She was born in Ssembabule district in Uganda, on 21 January 1957.
She earned her bachelor’s degree of Arts and Development Studies that was awarded by Nkumba university in 2004. Later in 2001, she was awarded a Masters’ degree of international relations by the same university in 2007.
Career and politics
Before she became a member of the parliament of Uganda in 2001, Anifa worked as a Constituent Assembly Delegate (1993–1995), she served as the Executive Publicity secretary for the National Women Council (1998–2002) as well served as a deputy resident district commissioner in Rakai district and as a speaker for Ssembabule District local government, as a caucus treasurer for the National Resistance Movement.
In 2016 she became a member a member of the Panafrican parliament up-to-date.
She subscribes to the ruling National Resistance Movement political party.
Margaret Muhanga
A politician, Rotarian, journalist, development consultant and a businesswoman, Muhanga is State Minister for Primary Healthcare,
Early Life and Education
Muhanga was born to Constance Muhangazima Adyeeri. And some of her siblings include; Journalist Andrew Mwenda and UPDF’s Maj. Gen Kayanja Muhanga.
Work and Experience
Muhanga is the current Minister of State for Primary Healthcare appointed by His Excellency the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2021.
In addition to her ministerial duties, Muhanga is a development consultant, Rotarian who loves Rotary International Network of Rotarians, a farmer who rears goats and cattle, and the CEO of Diamond Empowerment Ltd and Fort Fun City Fort Portal.
Muhanga as well served as an administrator at the office of the president, former journalist New Vision.
She worked for New Vision in the early 1990s covering parliament, and former Woman Member of Parliament for Kabarole District 2006-2011 and then Burahya County MP Kabarole District in the 10th parliament.
While at the New Vision, Muhanga initiated a strike at parliament in 1999 because parliament had refused to allocate an office for journalists reporting on parliamentary affairs.
She succeeded; an office was offered to journalists at parliament.
Together with Henry Ochieng, they started the Parliamentary Association of journalists, where Muhanga was the chairman and Ochieng the vice-chairman.
Muhanga says she got into politics because she loves helping people, but has no interest in politics.
David Bahati
Born on 8 June 1973, he is a accountant and politician. He is the State Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. He also served as State Minister of Finance for Planning. He was appointed to that position in a cabinet reshuffle on 1 March 2015, replacing Matia Kasaija. He is a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Ndorwa West, Kabale District. He is chief of the Scout Board of Uganda.
Education
Bahati received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Makerere University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Cardiff University, an executive certificate in strategic management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an executive certificate in campaign leadership from the Leadership Institute, and a diploma in business English from the Manchester Business School.[3] Carl Cooper, former bishop of St. David, said, “It was wonderful to discover that the local MP, Mr David Bahati, also had a Master’s degree from the University of Wales and had spent time studying in Cardiff. Wales’ influence often stretches further than we realise.” Before entering politics, Bahati was head of finance and administration at Uganda’s Population Secretariat.
Frederick Ngobi Gume
He is a politician and the State Minister for Cooperatives in the Ugandan Cabinet since 6 June 2016. He concurrently serves as the elected member of parliament representing Bulamogi North West County, Kaliro District in the 10th Parliament.
State Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority Kabuye Kyofatogabye
Henry Oryem Okello
He is a lawyer and politician, and current State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs) since 2004. In the cabinet reshuffles of 1 June 2006, 16 February 2009, and 27 May 2011, he retained his cabinet post. He has previously served as State Minister for Sports, from 2001 until 2005. He also serves as the elected Member of Parliament for “Chua County”, Kitgum District, until 2021.
Background and education
He was born in Chwa County in Kitgum District on 21 January 1960. His late father was General Tito Lutwa Okello (1914–1996), who served as President of Uganda between July 1985 and January 1986.
Oryem Okello holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws with Honors, from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, obtained in 1985. He also holds the degree of Master of Laws, from the University of Southampton, also in the UK, obtained in 1989. He was a practising Barrister-at-Law in Britain, before he left to enter Uganda’s politics in 2001.
Career
He practised as a legal executive between 1988 and 2000, in the United Kingdom. In 2001, he was elected to represent Chwa County, Kitgum District, in the Ugandan Parliament, serving continuously in that position until 2006. He was appointed Minister of State for Education and Sports, responsible for sports, serving in that capacity concurrent with his parliamentary responsibilities, until 2005. In 2005 he was appointed to his current ministerial position. Between 2001 and 2005, he served as the Anglophone Vice President, Supreme Council for Sports in Africa.
He did not contest his parliamentary seat during the 2006 elections. However, he still remained a member of parliament, in an ex-offico capacity, on account of being a cabinet minister. Between 2006 and 2008, he served as a member of the government delegation to the Juba peace talks between the Ugandan Government and representatives of the Lord’s Resistance Army. On many occasions, he was the Deputy Leader of the Uganda Government Delegation, led by Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda, at that time the Ugandan Minister of Internal Affairs.
In the 2011 National Elections, Okello Oryem defeated the then MP for “Chua County”, Okello Okello, of the Uganda People’s Congress political party, to regain his parliamentary seat. He is the current incumbent MP.
John Mulimba
He is a politician, member of parliament representing Samia Bugwe constituency who currently serves as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Co-operation).
Mulimba was elected to the Samia Bugwe constituency seat in the parliament in 2011 on the ticket of National Resistance Movement and served until 2016 when he lost his seat to Gideon Onyango. Mulimba was voted out in protest against his opulent lifestyle and negligence of his constituents. He owns Jogo FM radio station in Busia and drives around his constituency in monster pickup. He reclaimed the seat in the 2021 and was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Co-operation).
Victoria Rusoke Businge
Also known as Rusoke Victoria Businge, she was born on 3 January 1956 and is a Ugandan politician and teacher. Victoria served as the district Women’s Representative of Kabarole District in the ninth Parliament of Uganda. She was re-elected as the member of the eleventh parliament of Uganda in the 2021 January elections.
She is affiliated to the National Resistance Movement. In 2018, she was appointed and sworn in as the new member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) by the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart M. Katureebe at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala.
Education and background
She holds a Master of Education from Makerere University (2001) and attained a Bachelor of Education from Makerere University in 1991. She holds a Diploma in teacher education from Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (1986), Grade II teacher certificate, Makerere University (1980), and in 1977, she was awarded an East African certificate of education.
Victoria’s mother could not afford to educate her beyond O-level and hence she was unable to attain her dream of becoming a lawyer and instead became a teacher.
Career
She served as the District Education Officer, Kabarole from 2003 to 2010. From February to July 2003, she worked as the head teacher at Kalinaabiri Primary School and also served as the head teacher of Old Kampala Primary School from 1997 to 2002.
She was the head teacher of City Primary School from 1994 to 1995. She was employed as the deputy head teacher of Nakasero Primary School from 1991 to 1993 and as a tutor at Kibuli TTC from 1986 to 1990. She served as a teacher at Shimoni Demonstration School from 1980 to 1985. In 1978, she joined and served at the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK) which is now Kyambogo University.
She served on the Parliament’s committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry and on the Appointments Committee.
State Minister for Tourism – Martin Mugarra
Joyce Ssebugwawo
She is a Ugandan politician, entrepreneur and Minister of State for Information Communication Technology and National Guidance. She is a former minister in the Buganda government. She joined the Buganda government in early 1980s where she has worked as a Minister for women, community work and mobilization.
She is a former National Chairperson of Forum for Democratic Change, former Mayor for Rubaga Division in Kampala and an aunt to Queen Sylvia of Buganda.
Peace Regis Mutuuzo
She is a Ugandan politician who serves as the Women representative for Bunyangabu District. She is the Minister of State for Gender and Culture (Gender and Culture) since 6 June 2016.
Background and education
She was born in on 2 May 1975, in Rwimi sub-county, Bunyangabu county, in Kabarole District, in the Western Region of Uganda. Since then, Bunyangabu county was transformed into Bunyangabu District. She studied at St. Peter and Paul Primary School, Katikamu SDA Secondary School and at Mpanga Secondary School in Fort Portal. She was the head-girl while at Mpanga.
She attended National Teachers College Kakoba (NTCK), now a component of Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara, graduating with a Diploma in Secondary Education. She served as the president of the students’ guild at NTCK, while there.
She then joined Makerere University graduating with a Bachelor’s of Environmental Science. Later, she obtained a Master of Public Administration and Management from Uganda Management Institute in Kampala.
Career
Prior to joining active politics, she worked with Give and Take company owned by John Sanyu Katuramu (serving life sentence in Luzira Prison) and later in the Office of the President, as the Private Secretary to the President of Uganda. In 2016, she contested for the position of Woman Representative for Kabarole District, but was defeated in the primary elections of the National Resistance Movement political party. On 6 June 2016, she was appointed State Minister for Gender and Culture.
One of the first tasks she embarked on in her new ministerial post is the problem sexual violence. Another item on her agenda is the planned re-development, expansion and renovation of the National Theatre, which was built in 1959 and is now too small to accommodate large audiences. She is a member of the National Resistance Movement political party.
Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi
She is a politician and educationist, woman representative for Kisoro District, and Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Youth and Children Affairs).
Early life and education
Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi was born born on 15 July 1974) in the Chahi subcounty, Kisoro District in the Kigezi region to Philemon Mateke and Joy Rwanfizi Mateka. She is the third born of six in the family. Her father was a politician, a former State Minister for regional affairs and the mother was a professional teacher.
Nyirabashitsi attended Seseme Integrate School then Maryhill High School for her secondary education. She joined Bugema University and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the same University and a Postgraduate diploma in Public Administration and Management from Uganda Christian University.
Career
Nyirabashitsi entered her family’s businesses including timber production and transportation. She is the founder of Nyirabashitsi Foundation where she supports children to join boarding secondary schools from senior one to senior six. She is the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan International University, Makerere Metropolitan Management Institute, Kampala.
Nyirabashitsi joined the public service as Assistant Town clerk of Kisoro town council. She later contested the role of woman member of parliament of Kisoro District and won against incumbent, Eudia Kwizera. She was appointed Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Children and Youth Affairs) replacing Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi.
Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola
He is a Ugandan politician and retired Colonel in the Uganda People’s Defence Force. He is the current State Minister for Defence.
He was born to Chief (Jago) Nasan Engola and Ketula Engola of Awangi, in Iceme, Oyam district on 12 October 1958. Charles Okello-Engola is also the grandson of Rwot Olong Adilo, and also great grandson of Rwot Olwa Abelli of Iceme. He was appointed to the position of minister of state for defense on 6 June 2016, replacing General Jeje Odongo, who was appointed Cabinet Minister of Internal Affairs. He concurrently serves as the Member of Parliament representing Oyam North County in the 10th Parliament (2016 – 2021).
Background and education
Engola’s parents were Nathan Engola and Ketula Engola. His father was a well-known and respected chief in Lango. Engola was born on 12 October 1958 in present-day Oyam District. He attended local primary school. According to his profile at the website of Uganda’s parliament, he obtained his High School Diploma from Soroti Secondary School, in the city of Soroti, in the Eastern Region of Uganda.
His first degree, a Bachelor of Development Studies, was awarded by Kampala International University (KIU), in 2010. His second degree, a Master of Public Administration and Management was also obtained from KIU, in 2013.
Career
While in the military, Engola was the commander of UPDF 501 Brigade, headquartered at Opit, in Gulu District. The brigade played a role in fighting the Lord’s Resistance Army. He was promoted to the rank of colonel and retired from the military in 2007.
During the 2006 national election cycle, Engola successfully contested for the Local Council 5 (LCV), Oyam District Council Chairmanship, on the ruling NRM political party ticket. He won in a landslide, winning 93 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2011 and served as the LCV Chair for Oyam District for a continuous 10 years, from 2006. In 2016 he won the Oyam North parliamentary seat and is the incumbent member of parliament.
On 6 June 2016, Engola was named to the cabinet as State Minister of Defence. In the cabinet reshuffle of 14 December 2019, Engola retained his portfolio.
State Minister for the Elderly Gidudu Mafaabi
Hellen Asamo
Also known as Asamo Hellen Grace, was born on 24 April 1964. She is a Ugandan teacher and a representative of people with disabilities for Eastern region who served in the ninth and tenth Parliaments of Uganda. She won the 2021 general elections for her position as the representative of people with disabilities for Eastern region.
Education background
In 1977, she completed her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) from Soroti Primary School and later joined Nkoma Secondary School to pursue her Uganda Certificate of Education and finished in 1981. In 1990, she was awarded a Grade III Teaching Certificate from Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo.
In 1996, she then got a diploma in education from Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo again. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education (2006) from Kyambogo University.
Career life before politics
In 1992-1997, she served as a teacher at Nakatunya Primary School. In 1997, she joined a Moroto KDA Primary School as a teacher and later served at the same school as the deputy head teacher between 1998 and 2000. She joined NUDIPU (National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda) between 2002 and 2003 and worked as the Ag. executive director. In 1990-1992, she served as a teacher at Soroti Primary School. From 2000 to 2003, she joined Moroto Army School and was employed as the deputy headteacher. From 2003 to 2011, she was the deputy executive director/head of programmes at NUDIPU.
Political career
From 2013 to date, she has worked as the vice chairperson Equal Opportunities Committee at the Parliament of Uganda. She served as the member of Parliament from 2011 to 2021 in the ninth and tenth Parliaments of Uganda.
At the Parliament of Uganda, she served on additional role as the vice chairperson on the Committee on Equal Opportunities, and as a member of the Committee on Gender Labour and Social Development and Appointments Committee.
She tabled a resolution of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus to have President Museveni as an unopposed flag bearer for the party in 2021 elections. Hellen cited that her main reason for endorsing Museveni as a sole candidature was to consolidate his achievements on peace and stability by moving the country towards prosperity, industrialisation and stabilisation of the economy.
General David Rubakuba Muhoozi
He is a military officer and Lawyer. He currently serves as the Minister of State for Internal Affairs since 6 June 2021, replacing Obiga Kania.
Background and education
David Muhoozi was born in Mbarara District in 1965. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB), obtained from Makerere University, Uganda’s largest and oldest public university. He also obtained the Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Center, in Kampala, Uganda. His degree of Master of Arts in International Affairs was obtained from an institution yet to be revealed.
Military training
Muhoozi attended the Uganda Military Academy, back when it was still located in Jinja, for his Officer Cadet course. He then attended the Company Commander course at Monduli, Tanzania in 1998. He followed that with the Senior Command and Staff College course in Ghana. Following that, he was admitted to the Royal College of Defence Studies.
Over the years, he has also attended the following military courses: (1) A Professional Security Course in Israel (2) An Executive Course for Senior African Military Leaders in Beijing, China (3) An Internal Crisis Management Course in Ghana (4) An International Peace Support Operations (IPSO) Course at Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre in Ghana (5) A Defense Management Course in Ghana and (6) A Senior International Defense Course at the Naval Postgraduate School, California, United States of America, California, USA.
Military career
He joined the army in 1985 and was commissioned on April 21, 1989. He then served as Defense Counsel for the General Court Martial. In 1997, he was assigned to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), as Staff Officer General Duties, serving in that role for the next four years.
Over the years, he has served in these positions within the UPDF: (1) Base Commander, Entebbe Air Force Base (2) Chief Of Staff, UPDF Air Force (3) Commander of Air Defense Division – Nakasongola Air Force Base (4) Commander of the Armored Brigade – Masaka and (5) Brigade Commander, Motorized Infantry Brigade – [[Nakasongola] Chief of Defence Forces 2017 -2021.
Grace Mary Mugasa
Mugasa currently serves as the State Minister for Public Service. She was appointed on June 8, 2021, by the President Museveni, assuming office on 21 June 2021. Grace Mary took office from David Karubanga, the former State Minister and Member of Parliament representing Kigorobya. Prior to her appointment, she was the first female Mayor of Hoima Municipality and saw it through its transition to City status in July 2020.
Background and education
Mugasa was born in Munteme, Hoima District, Western Uganda in December, 1968 to Pascal and Regina Rukanyanga. She holds two Diplomas in Principles of Modern Management, Sales Management and Marketing from the College of Professional Management, United Kingdom as well as a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Democracy and Development Studies and a Master of Arts in Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi.
Mrs. Mugasa also holds a Certificate in Capacity Building for Local Political Leaders from the ICLD, the Swedish Centre for International Development and a Certificate on Gender Mainstreaming in Local Governance from Israel – MASHAV Golda Meir Centre Mt Carmel.
Career
Mugasa started her career as a teacher in Kizirafumbi Sub-county after her O-Level in 1986. Upon completion of her two diplomas in Principles of Modern Management and Sales Management & Marketing, she became a community trainer in small businesses and owned a small business herself.
In 2001, she joined active politics where she vied and was elected as woman councillor representing Northern ward in Hoima Town Council, Hoima District. She held the position for 10 years after her re-election in 2006. In July 2010, Hoima Town Council was upgraded to municipal status, and she was elected the first mayor of Hoima Municipality in March 2011 and later re-elected in 2016.
Grace is also one of the founders of the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) in 2016 and was the second vice-chair of the GPM Executive Committee until her appointment as Minister in June, 2021. She has also served as board member on various Boards: HOFOKAM Ltd (a microfinance company); Communications Board of Hoima Catholic Diocese; Millennium Business School; St. Andrea Kaahwa’s College; Kitara Secondary School.
Personal life
Grace Mary is married to Aloysius Mugasa Adyeeri, an Administrative Specialist and author, currently Chairman of Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Board – a position he held upon retiring as managing director of Uganda Kolping Society. She is a mother with grown children and grandchildren as well as a guardian to a number of orphans. Grace’s interests are Gender equality, and clean environment.
Legacy
During her two terms as mayor, Mugasa gained recognition for her “no-nonsense” approach towards organised urbanisation. She earned a nickname as Hoima’s “Iron Lady” among the city’s residents and is known for intolerance towards disorder and gabbage around the city while she advocated for proper, well-planned building procedures.
During her time as mayor, Hoima saw a transformation through rehabilitation of the Municipal/City headquarters as well as road construction with the support of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program, funded by the World Bank-IDA’s loan program.
As of March 2022, almost a year after her tenure, roads accredited to Grace Mary’s requests towards the president and continuous lobbying were under construction in Hoima city. These included the roads leading to and around the major worship centres – Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, Bujumbura, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Duhaga and Bwikya mosque, Kinubi.
