The 2021 TOP18 Most Powerful and Influential Women Leaders in Uganda.
The survey to determine the top 18 Most powerful and influential women Leaders in Uganda was conducted by Public Opinions between June 2021 and November 2021.The survey targeted women in business,Women in politics, Youth Leaders and random people in 80 Districts of Uganda.
The top 18 most powerful women in Uganda have therefore been recognised by Public Opinions with the Uganda Economic Development Mark of Excellence Award in appreciation of their contributions towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as inspiring the young people of Uganda.
Here is the full list of the accredited TOP18 Most Powerful and Influential Women Leaders in Uganda for the year ending 31st December 2021.
- H.E. JESSICA ROSE EPEL ALUPO
Vice President of Uganda
She is a humble and focused Leader. Alupo is a retired Major of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).She first joined the cabinet as State Minister for Youth in 2009 and later served as Minister of Education and Sports between 2011 and 2015. But she lost her parliamentary seat in 2016 to Violet Akurut Adome and failed to return to the post-election cabinet.In the just-concluded election, Alupo defied the National Resistance Movement-NRM party to contest as an independent candidate and eventually ousted Akurut, the official flag holder of the ruling party in polls held on January 14, 2021.Her battle back to parliament was a hard one especially within the NRM party where she belongs. She was declared flag bearer briefly before the NRM Electoral Commission nullified her election. The election was characterized by violence when big-shots in the district including security officers took sides in support of her challenger.The former Minister now becomes the first person from Teso to be appointed Vice President and only the second female Ugandan to hold the position after Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe. She was born on 23 may 1974, to the late George William Epel, an educationist and Bernadette Akol, now a retired midwife from Katakwi district, Alupo went to Apuuton Primary School in Katakwi district before joining Kangole Girls School in Napak and later Ngora High School from where she completed her ‘O’ and A-Level cycles respectively.EXTURA NATURAL TEA is the best Remedy for Weak Erection,Premature ejaculation,ulcers,candida,urinary tract infections and menstrual pain.Its a great immune and energy Booster,It help to prevent and manage Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Enlarged Prostate Gland.A tin or a Five Litres Jerrycan of Extura Natural Tea is sold at only 40,000shs at Shop M55 Ground Floor, Park Enkadde Mall,Old Taxi Park Kampala or call 0708737418 for Delivery or Call 0772675647 for Direction to the Shop in old Taxi Park
Alupo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Linguistics Degree, obtained in 1997 from Makerere University and a Master’s Degree in Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy also obtained from Makerere University among other qualifications.
She also holds a Diploma in Public Administration and Management from the Uganda Management Institute as well as a Masters in Public Administration.
Before joining Parliament, Alupo was a teacher at Katakwi High School in Katakwi district. She also worked as an instructor at the Uganda Urban Warfare Training School, Singo in Nakaseke district and an intelligence officer at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), in Kampala.
Alupo had initially trained as a high school canteen attendant before undergoing an officer cadet course at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja. She is married to Major Innocent Tukashaba.
Her brother, Fr. Emmaus Akepa says Alupo’s appointment is historic and a blessing to the land. “Teso has had great men and women right from colonialism in leadership but for some reason, they have not had the opportunity to reach heights, but Alupo has been honored to that position. We thank God”, he said.
Akepa says that Alupo has great leadership qualities but only lacked opportunities to showcase them.
- HON JANET KATAHA MUSEVENI
First Lady of Uganda
Hon. Museveni Janet Kataaha was inducted in the 2020 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records and Rated on the List of Uganda TOP50 Most Influential and Best Performing Ministers of the Cabinet of the Government of Uganda by Public Opinions the Leading organization working towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through Strategic Research, Public Awareness, Information Dissemination, Public Relations, Public Advisory as well as Personal and Corporate Profiling.Janet Kataaha Museveni is the Minister of Education and Sports in the Cabinet of the Government of Uganda.
Janet Kataha Museveni was born on 24 June 1948. She is the First Lady of Uganda. She is married to Yoweri Museveni, with whom they have four children. Janet Museveni went into exile in 1971, when Idi Amin toppled the Obote I 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; 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.Janet Museveni an old girl of Bweranyagye Girls’ Secondary School; holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Makerere University which she acquired in 1997 after joining the university in 1995.
She also has a Diploma in Early Childhood Development from Sweden.In November 2005 Janet Museveni showed her desire to join active politics when she announced that she would seek the parliamentary seat of Ruhaama County, in the February 2006 Ugandan general elections. She contested the seat against the candidate for 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 and later appointed Minister of Education, a post she holds to date.
Aside politics and being the first lady of Uganda; Janet Museveni boasts of other achievements such as being the founder of Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), an indigenous NGO which cares for war-related and HIV/AIDS-affected orphans in all the Districts of Uganda. The NGO has been in operation since 1986 and works with major UN agencies and other international donor agencies.The first lady is also the founder and Patron of National Strategy for the Advancement of Rural Women in Uganda (NSARWU), an NGO which works with poor rural women to empower them economically through various interventions.
Founder and Patron of the Uganda Youth Forum (UYF) and NGO that engages the youth of Uganda for purposes of character and behavior formation particularly with regard to HIV and AIDS prevention.Janet Museveni is also the Patron of the Safe Motherhood Initiative of the Ministry of Health and WHO for reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity. She is as well the Co-chair of CURE Hospital – a special Hospital for crippled children in Uganda, with CURE International.She is also an Active member of OAFLA, an Organization that unites the First Ladies of Africa in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the Region.
Above all Janet Museveni is a Professed and active Christian whose work and life is driven by faith.
Hon.Janet Kataha Museveni is an Inductee in the 2020 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records in appreciation and recognition of the great contribution towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)-Inducted and Accredited by Public Opinions.
- H.E NATALIE E. BROWN
United States Ambassador to Uganda
H.E Natalie E. Brown, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister Counselor, was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Ambassador to Uganda on August 6, 2020. She previously served as the Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea from 2016-2019. Other senior leadership positions include Deputy Permanent Representative and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, Italy from 2013-2016, where she was elected to represent North America on the Finance Committee of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Ambassador Brown also served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia from 2010-2013 as that country transitioned from dictatorship to democracy. Throughout her career, Ambassador Brown has garnered experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy with a geographic focus on Africa and the Middle East.
Ambassador Brown’s previous assignments include service as the Economic Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan and as the Political Chief of the U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait. In Washington, she served twice in the State Department Executive Secretariat’s Operations Center, including as a Senior Watch Officer on September 11, and as an International Affairs Officer in the Office of UN Political Affairs in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs. Still earlier she was the State Department’s Desk Officer for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in the Office of West African Affairs. She also had assignments overseas in the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and in the U.S Embassy Conakry, Guinea.
Ambassador Brown earned her B.S from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and was awarded her M.S. from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia. She is an alumna of the International Career Advancement Program and was the first State Department participant in the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation Fellows Program. Ambassador Brown speaks French and Arabic and has studied Italian, German, Amharic, and Tigrinya.
- RT HON ANITA ANNET AMONG
DEPUTY SPEAKER, Parliament of Uganda
Rt Hon Anita Annet Among was born on 23 November 1973. She is a Ugandan accountant, lawyer and politician, who is the current Speaker of the National Assembly and the Member of Parliament, representing Bukedea District Women Constituency in the 11th parliament.
Hon Among was born in Bukedea District in Teso Sub Region in Eastern Uganda. She attended local schools for her elementary and secondary education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, from Makerere University, in 2005. In 2008, she was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree, also by Makerere University.
In 2018, Among graduated from Kampala International University, with a Bachelor of Laws degree. At that time she was in the process of attaining qualification as a Chartered Certified Accountant.
From 1998 until 2006, Ms Among worked at Centenary Bank. At the time she left in 2006, she had risen to the rank of branch manager. For the ten years prior to her election to parliament, she served as a lecturer in accounting, at Kampala International University.
For two parliamentary election cycles in 2007, when Bukedea District was created, and 2011, Among lost the District Woman Representative seat to Rose Akol of the National Resistance Movement political party.
Among, a long-time member of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change political party, contested in 2016 as an independent candidate and she won and is the incumbent Member of Parliament todate.
In the 10th Parliament, Ms Among served as the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
In 2020, she joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and won the party primaries. In the 2021 general elections, Among was one of the few legislators who was elected unopposed to join the 11th parliament. She is one of the few most admired and influential Women in Uganda and she is an dedicated her life in fighting for the rights of the most marginalized people and ensuring better service delivery in the implementation of Government Programs.
- RT HON.REBECCAALITWALA KADAGA
1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs.
Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga was born in Kamuli District, Eastern Uganda, on 24 May 1956. Rebecca Kadaga attended Namasagali College for her high school education. She studied law at Makerere University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor 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.
The Rt Hon.Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga is a Ugandan lawyer and politician who has been Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda since 19 May 2011.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 Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kamuli District Women’s Constituency, Busoga sub-region, a position she has held since 1989.
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, Rebecca Kadaga was the Ugandan Minister of State for Regional Cooperation (Africa and the Middle East). She then served as Minister of State for Communication and Aviation from 1998 to 1999 and as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs from 1999 to 2000. 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
Besides her duties as speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, she sits 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
The Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga is an Inductee in the Uganda Who is Who Book of Records in appreciation and recognition of the great contribution towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)-Inducted and Accredited by Public Opinions.
- RT. HON. NABBANJA ROBINAH
Prime Minister of Uganda
Who is Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja the Champion of Public Accountability and Better Service Delivery in Uganda?. Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja was appointed as Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni on 8th June 2021 becoming the 11th person and first female, to occupy the office since Uganda became independent in 1962.
Before this appointment, Hon. Nabbanja was the Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, a position she was appointed to on 14th December 2019.
Nabbanja was born and raised in Kamusenene village, Nkooko Sub County in present-day Kakumiro District, Bunyoro, Western Uganda on 17 December 1969. She attended Nkooko Primary School before joining 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.
She later obtained a Bachelor of Democracy and Development Studies Degree from Uganda Martyrs University in 2013. From 1993 until 1996, Hon. Nabbanja was a School Teacher at Uganda Martyrs’ Secondary School Kakumiro. She then served as a District Councilor, representing Nkooko Sub-County, in what was Kibaale District at the time, from 1998 until 2001. During that period, she concurrently served as the Secretary for Health, Gender and Community Services for the district.
For 10 years (2001–2010) she served as a Resident District Commissioner in the districts of Pallisa, Busia and Budaka, before joining elective politics in 2011, when she successfully contested for Kibaale District Woman Representative in the 9th Parliament (2011–2016).
When Kakumiro District was created in 2016, she successfully contested for the Woman Representative seat for the new district. She is currently the Woman MP for Kakumiro District, having won re- election for the same seat in the January 2021 elections.
During her time in Parliament, she served as Treasurer of the NRM Caucus (2011-2016), and as a Parliamentary Commissioner (2016-2019).
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah is currently a first year Masters student of Monitoring and Evaluation at Nkumba University, Kampala Campus.
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja is passionate about Community Mobilization and effective Service Delivery. Rt Hon Nabbanja as always described President Museveni as the Uganda Peace and Development Champion.
- HRH QUEEN SYLVIA OF BUGANDA
Queenof the Kingdom of Buganda
Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda is the daughter of John Mulumba Luswata of Nkumba, Busiro; and Rebecca Nakintu Musoke who currently lives in New York. She is the granddaughter of Mr. George William Musoke and Mrs. Nora Musoke of Nazzigo, Kyaggwe; and Omutaka Nelson Nkalubo Sebugwawo and Mrs.Catherine Sebugwawo of Nkumba. She has three brothers and three sisters. Born in the United Kingdom and raised in Uganda, she lived in the United States for several years before getting married to Kabaka Mutebi II in a historical ceremony on August 27, 1999; at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe.
Sylvia attended Lake Victoria Primary School, Gayaza Junior School and Wanyange Girls School before proceeding to the United States where she earned her Associates Degree with Honours from City University of New York, a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University and a Master of Arts degree, with Distinction, from New York Institute of Technology. Her major field of study was Public Relations, including economics, journalism and corporate communications.
Sylvia gained most of her professional experience in the United States. She worked as a Research Consultant at the United Nations headquarters, as a Proposal Writer with MAXIMUS, Inc. and GKA Inc., and worked as an independent consultant in public relations and business development. She has applied her skills in fields such as public information, economic research, health care and human services, and international non-profit activities.
Sylvia and the Kabaka had known each other for a number of years, but their romance blossomed in 1998, leading to the announcement of their engagement on Valentines’ Day February 14, 1999. On that day, Kabaka Mutebi formally introduced Sylvia to members of his family and the Katikkiro. On March 14th, the Katikkiro led a 20-person delegation to Sylvia’s family to pay their respects on behalf of the Kabaka. On March 15, 1999; the Katikkiro, during a historic sitting of the Lukiiko at Mmengo, formally informed the whole of Buganda about the forthcoming marriage.
The announcement was greeted with joy and goodwill from Baganda and other well wishers, at home and abroad. Ugandans in North America are particularly happy that one of their own has won the heart of the Kabaka of Buganda.
- GEN PROSCOVIA NALWEYISO
Special Presidential Advisor on Defense and Security
Lt. Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso is a senior Ugandan military officer in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). At the rank of Major General, she is the highest ranking female officer, in the Ugandan military. She is one of the most powerful Women in Uganda and one of the best handlers of H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. She was recently awarded by public Opinions with the Uganda Peace Champion in appreciation of her contribution to liberation of Uganda.Maj General Proscovia Nalweyiso was born in June 1954, in Mpigi District, in a family with 20 children.
In 1979, she began work as a schoolteacher and typist in her home area. During his period, she became an active member of the Ugandan Democratic Party. Following the 1980 Ugandan National Elections and the subsequent formation of the National Resistance Army (NRA), Nalweyiso joined the guerrillas in the bush in 1982 which captured state power in 1986 hence the final liberation of Uganda from tyrannical regimes.In 1983 a unit of female NRA fighters was formed and Nalweyiso was appointed as its commandant. The following year, the unit was relocated from Luweero District in Central Uganda, to Western Uganda.In 1985, the unit Nalweyiso commanded, participated in the NRA forces that attacked Mbarara military barracks. Following that deployment, the NRA Women’s Wing settled in Fort Portal, until the war ended in 1986.
In 1986, when the NRA captured power, Nalweyiso was given the rank of captain and appointed the commandant of the 800-member women’s wing in the army, at that time. She steadily rose through the ranks and by 2000 was at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.In 2011, Proscovia Nalweyiso became the first female Brigadier General in Ugandan Army ranks, a noteworthy achievement, which was celebrated across the continent. Fast-forward to 2017, the country has recorded another remarkable milestone, the promotion of Brigadier Nalweyiso to the rank of Major General.
For over a decade prior to her promotion to Major General, she had worked at the Uganda State House as an aide and military adviser to H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the president of the Republic of Uganda.
- COLONEL EDITH NAKALEMA
Head – Statehouse Anti-Corruption Unit
Lieutenant Colonel Edith Nakalema, is a Ugandan military officer and the Head Uganda State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema was born in 1978, to Midrace Sserwadda (mother), a housewife and Eiyasafu Sserwadda (father), an Anglican parish priest in Kashaari Village, Mbarara District in Western Uganda.In Mbarara, he met with Edith Nakalema’s mother Midrace Nambatya who was a shop attendant in Mbarara town.
The two bought a piece of land in Kashaari and set up a house and the two got married in 1976. Midrace Nambatya renamed her husband Sserwadda.
Their first child was named Edith Nakalema, and when they gave birth to their second born in 1980, she was named Doreen Mbabazi, current RDC Mbarara District and sister to Nakalema.
She was born in Kashaari Village, Mbarara District in the Western Region of Uganda, to Midrace Sserwadda, a housewife and Eiyasafu Sserwadda, an Anglican parish priest. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a Ugandan university. She joined the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) in 1999, where she rose to the rank of Major, in the “Special Forces Command”, under the command of Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from undisclosed Ugandan University. She joined the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) in 1999, where she rose to the rank of Major, in the “Special Forces Command,” under the command of Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Edith Nakalema also graduated in August 2018, from the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, in Watchfield, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, where she had been admitted in 2017.
While UK, Nakalema as well proceeded with her education and attained a master’s degree in Law, at King’s College London.
Before she arrived at the Uganda State House, Nakalema had worked in the finance department of the Special Forces Command (SPC).
She was part of a team that established a working financial and accounting system at the SFC.
In 2014, she was appointed to be the personal private secretary (PPS) to the President of Uganda, on the recommendation of the SFC.
In November 2016, her role was elevated to that of personal assistant to the president, specifically taking charge of the president’s daily itinerary. She was replaced as PPS, by Molly Kamukama, a civilian.
In June 2017, Nakalema was selected to attend senior military training in the United Kingdom, where she also studied a master’s degree in Law at King’s College London.
Currently, Nakalema serves as the head of the Anti-Corruption and Monitoring Unit, State House Uganda.
In November 2017, the New Vision newspaper in Kampala, Uganda reported that Major Edith Nakalema was a student at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), in the United Kingdom on State sponsorship.
As part of the international day celebrations by students at the military college, Nakalema showcased Ugandan attire, cuisine (including food and fruits) and cultural dances.
The showcase, attended by staff from Uganda’s high commission in London, impressed Air Vice-Marshal Chris Luck, the commander of the military school.
To celebrate her graduation from the Joint Services and Command Staff College at the United Kingdom Defense Academy in Shrivenham, Maj. Nakalema hosted staff and their families to a luncheon, attended by over 100 people from different countries.
In December 2018, Nakalema was introduced at a public function as a Lieutenant Colonel, who is the head of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Unit, based at State House, in Kampala.
Also, in one of President Museveni’s address on Coronavirus outbreak in Uganda, Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, was appointed to deal with errant and corrupt officers in the fight against COVID-19.
In his address, Museveni warned security officers against mistreating people, especially during the enforcement of the Coronavirus lockdown and curfew directive.
He said his military assistant Lt. Col. Nakalema will be available to receive complaints about unbecoming behaviour especially corruption cited among some Resident District Commissioners (RDC) and Local Defense Units (LDU’s).
On Saturday morning, the President published Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema hotlines via his Twitter handle: “Last night, I announced that the public can report erring security officers/law enforcers to Edith Nakalema, especially those unnecessary harassing our people during this lockdown and curfew.
- RT. HON.JUSTINE LUMUMBA KASULE
Minister for General Duties Office of the Prime Minister
Rt Hon.Kasule Lumumba is a Ugandan politician and teacher who is currently the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda.Kasule Lumumba was born on 22nd November 1972 in a district called Bugiri district found in the central part of Uganda.Kasule Lumumba had her ordinary level of education at St. Anthony Senior secondary school which is found in Nkokonjeru and then went to St. Joseph’s secondary school which is found in Nagalama for her Advanced Level of education.In 1993, Kasule Lumumba joined Makerere University where she was studying Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Education at the same time and she completed the course in 1996. In 1996 she started teaching until she left teaching in 1997.In 1997, Kasule Lumumba worked as the District Inspector of Schools in Bugiri district and then she joined the Ministry of Education where she worked as the senior education officer between 1998 and 2001.Kasule Lumumba then joined politics where she contested for the seat of the woman Member of Parliament in Bugiri district under National Resistance Movement’s ticket that she overwhelmingly worn and became the woman representative for Bugiri district.After this stint in parliament, she was again re-elected into parliament from 2001 until 2014 when she was appointed as the secretary general of the National Resistance Movement political party by the president of the republic of Uganda.Before becoming the secretary general of the ruling party, Kasule Lumumba worked as the Government Chief Whip and during this time she replaced Engineer John Nasasira.On December 23rd of 2014, Kasule Lumumba was appointed as the secretary general of the National resisance movement and she replaced Hon. Amama Mbabazi.
- AMELIA ANNE KYAMBADDE
Senior Presidential Advisor on Industry
Hon Ameria Kyambadde is a senior Presidential Advisor on Industry. She was the Minister for Trade and Cooperatives is one of the most admired and influentail women in Uganda. She served as the Principal Private Secretary to H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.She has dedicated her lief to serving humanity and working towards social-economic transformation of communities. She has engaged both Government and private sector to ensure affordable health for rural people,better education,local industrialisation and aaffordable electricity.
Amelia was born as the first and only child to Serwano Kulubya and Mary Kafureeka in 1955. She however had a total of six other siblings from both her father and mother’s side, and numerous cousins from the Kulubya side of the family, as her father had a total of 11 siblings. She was raised predominantly by the Kulubyas and was therefore no stranger to luxury. It is this ‘cushioned’ upbringing that first stirred compassion for those in her community who lived off less.
Having been born in England, and then returning to live with her wealthy grand parents in Nankulabye, and socializing only with her cousins on the paternal side, Amelia had had no exposure to hardship and poverty. That is until she started school, and met other children from less privileged homes. Her father used to tell a tale of how Amelia would go to school with fine leather shoes from England, and return home with plastic ones, that had been finely polished with Vaseline, her reasons would entail having felt pity on a friend who had admired and openly coveted her shoes, and how an exchange had been a very agreeable option for the two them.
The woes of her compassion got worse when she joined boarding school, Amelia would give away anything and everything to whomever she deemed less fortunate and need of aid. And her father knew with certainty that every few weeks into the beginning of a term, he would receive a message of his daughter’s desperate situation of hunger or lack of something critical. No matter how bad the scolding she would get, Amelia never stopped trying to solve the plight of her less unfortunate contemporaries, she in fact became better at telling tales of how her things would vanish. Unknown to everyone back then, this would be the origins of her philanthropy.
History
Amelia Anne Kyambadde would best be defined as a Ugandan Philanthropist, Politician, and mother. She is the elected Member of Parliament for Mawokota North County in Mpigi District of Uganda. On 27th May 2011 she was appointed Minister for Trade and Industry in the Ugandan Cabinet, an office she still occupies.
Background
Amelia was born on 30th June 1955 in Guildford, Surrey UK, to the late Serwano K. Kulubya an Advocate, and Mary Kafureka, a trained Nurse. At the tender age of 4, her father relocated back to Uganda and took Amelia along.
Education
Primary Education: Gayaza Primary School in Wakiso District (1963-1968)
Secondary Education: Sacred Heart High School GULU (1969-1972)
Advanced Level Education: Aga Khan SecondarySchool, Kampala(1973-1974)
Post A-Level Education: New Era Secretarial College in Nairobi, Kenya((1975-1976)
Swedish Language Certificate Gothenburg, Sweden(1982-1983)
Office Management in Swedish Certificate. Gothernburg, Sweden(1984-1985)
Higher Diploma in Administrative and Secretarial Studies, New College, Durham University, U.K. (1989-1990)
Administrative Studies for Executive Assistants Certificate, ESAMI, Swaziland(1994)
Bachelor of Business Administration: Makerere University Business School (1996-1999)
Postgraduate Degree: MBA, American InterContinental University in London, UK.(2002-2003)
- DR. DIANA ATWINEKANZIRA
Permanent Secretary-Ministry of Health
She is a Ugandan medical doctor and civil servant. She is the incumbent Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health. She was appointed to that position on 4 November 2016 by Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda. She is considered by many ugandans according to our survey as the best permanent secretary in the ministry of Health. Prior to her deployment in ministry of health,she served as Head of the State House Health Monitoring Unit.
- EVELYN ANITEKAJIK
Minister of State Privatization and Investment
The Hon.Evelyn Anite Kajik was inducted in the 2020 Uganda Who and Who Book of Records and Rated on the List of Uganda TOP50 Most Influential and Best Performing Ministers of the Cabinet of the Government of Uganda by Public Opinions the Leading organization working towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through Strategic Research, Public Awareness, Information Dissemination, Public Relations, Public Advisory as well as Personal and Corporate Profiling.
The Hon.Evelyn Anite Kajik is the State Minister for Investment and Privatization in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in the Cabinet of Uganda. She was appointed to that position on 6 June 2016. She is the elected Woman Member of Parliament for Koboko District in west Nile Region. She served as Youth Member of Parliament for Northern Region from 2011 to 2016.
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 attended Arua Hill Primary School for her elementary school education before joining 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.
Right out of high school in 2005, Anite started working as a radio presenter on 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 (UBC).
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. Anite is married to Allan Kajik and together, they have one daughter.
Hon.Evelyn Anite is an Inductee in the 2020 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records in appreciation and recognition of the great contribution towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)-Inducted and Accredited by Public Opinions.
- HON ENG.WINIFRED BYANYIMA
Executive Director of UNAIDS, Geneva
Winnie Byanyima is the Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. A passionate and longstanding champion of social justice and gender equality, Ms Byanyima leads the United Nations’ efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Ms Byanyima believes that health care is a human right and was an early champion of a People’s Vaccine against the coronavirus that is available and free of charge to everyone, everywhere.
Before joining UNAIDS, Ms Byanyima served as the Executive Director of Oxfam International, a confederation of 20 civil society organizations working in more than 90 countries worldwide, empowering people to create a future that is secure, just and free from poverty.
Ms Byanyima was elected for three terms and served 11 years in the parliament of her country, Uganda. She led Uganda’s first parliamentary women’s caucus, championing ground-breaking gender equality provisions in the county’s 1995 post-conflict constitution.
Ms Byanyima led the establishment of the African Union Commission’s Directorate of Gender and Development and also served as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Programme. She founded the Forum for Women in Democracy, an influential Ugandan nongovernmental organization, and has been deeply involved in building global and African coalitions on social justice issues. A global leader on inequality, Ms Byanyima has co-chaired the World Economic Forum and served on the World Bank’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development, the International Labour Organization’s Global Commission on the Future of Work and the Global Commission on Adaptation.
Ms Byanyima is a recipient of several awards, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, an honorary doctorate from Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada, and the 2018 Human Rights and Solidarity among Peoples Prize, awarded by the Latin American Council of Social Sciences.
She holds a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from Cranfield University and an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Manchester.
Ms Byanyima is married and has one son. She loves birds, gardening and hiking. Ms Byanyima has seven given names, one of which is Kyegiragire, which means “I can make myself whatever I want to be”. Ms Byanyima says this has shaped her attitude to life!
- HON. BETTY AMONGI ONGOM AKENA
Minister Of Gender Labour And Social Development
Hon.Betty Amongi Akena was inducted in the 2020 Uganda Who and Who Book of Records and Rated on the List of Uganda TOP50 Most Influential and Best Performing Ministers of the Cabinet of the Government of Uganda by Public Opinions the Leading organization working towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through Strategic Research, Public Awareness, Information Dissemination, Public Relations, Public Advisory as well as Personal and Corporate Profiling.Betty Amongi Akena is the Minister of Gender,Labour and Social Development. She served as Cabinet Minister of Kampala Capital City in the Cabinet of Uganda since 14 December 2019.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 10th Parliament (2016 to 2021).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 ad public administration.
Later in 2009, she was awarded a Master of Arts in International relations and Diplomatic studies.Betty Amongi was first elected to parliament in 2001. She was re-elected in 2006, 2011 and 2016. In a surprise move following the 20 February 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, President Yoweri Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement political party, 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.On 6 April 2013, Betty Amongi married Jimmy Akena, the Member of Parliament for Lira Municipality and president of the opposition Uganda People’s Congress. Akena is the son of Milton Obote, the two-time former Prime Minister and President of Uganda. The traditional marriage took place in Minakulu sub-county, Oyam District and was attended by 32 members of parliament. President Yoweri Museveni, a friend of the couple, also attended the wedding.
Hon.Betty Amongi is an Inductee in the 2020 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records in appreciation and recognition of the great contribution towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)-Inducted and Accredited by Public Opinions.
- RUTH SSENTAMU NANKABIRWA
Minister of Energy and Mineral Development
Hon Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu was inducted in the 2020 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records and Rated on the List of Uganda TOP50 Most Influential and Best Performing Ministers of the Cabinet of the Government of Uganda by Public Opinions the Leading organization working towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through Strategic Research, Public Awareness, Information Dissemination, Public Relations, Public Advisory as well as Personal and Corporate Profiling. Hon.Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu is the Government Chief Whip in the Parliament of Uganda. She is a member of the Cabinet of the Government of the Republic of Uganda since 1 March 2015 replacing Justine Lumumba Kasule, who was appointed to the position of the Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement political party since 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. Prior to that, she served as State Minister for Microfinance from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011.She served as Minister of State for Defense from 2001 to 2008.
She is the elected Member of Parliament, representing the Kiboga District Women’s Constituency.
Ruth Nankabirwa was born on 28 November 1965. She hails from Kiboga District in Central Uganda. 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.
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. She holds that position up to today. From 1998 through 2001, she served as Minister of State for Luweero Triangle in the Office of the Prime Minister. Between 2001 and 2008, she served as State Minister for Defense, a post she held until she was appointed to be the State Minister for Microfinance.
Hon.Ruth Nankabirwa is an Inductee in the 2020 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records in appreciation and recognition of the great contribution towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)-Inducted and Accredited by Public Opinions.
- MRS ALLENCATHERINE KAGINA
Executive Director, UNRA
Allen Catherine Kagina is Ugandan administrator, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), mother and a wife. She is much known for good administrative skills, hard work and integrity credited by almost everybody in the country for her excellent service.Kagina is one leader who believes in managing transitions at corporate and personal levels. A very strict person, and when it comes to the authorization of funding she pays zero tolerance to corruption.Kagina’s entire focus is on building people’s skills, systems, and a new culture at UNRA. Her approach has been almost similar to the program she used as CG at URA.Kagina is a proven corporate reformer, after her years as head of the URA that saw it transformed from a low performing den of corruption to an efficient, result-oriented and relating clean organization.Allen Catherine Kagina was born in 1961 to Hezron Kakuyo and Catherine Kakuyo in Rukungiri District, Western Uganda. She is a sister to Lorna Magara, Jocelyn Kyobutungi Rugunda, wife to Uganda’s Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda as well as Caleb Kakuyo former Chief Commercial Officer at National Housing and Construction Corporation among others.Allen Kagina attended Gayaza High School, a prestigious boarding school for both O and A-Level.From Gayaza, Kagina joined Makerere University Kampala, Uganda’s oldest and largest prestigious public university and attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.Kagina later proceeded with her studies and attained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom (UK).Kagina started her career in 1985 as a teaching assistant at Makerere University. She later moved to the Office of the President.In 1992, Kagina joined the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) as a senior principal revenue officer, serving in that capacity until 1998.In 2000, she was promoted to the rank of deputy commissioner for customs at URA, serving in that capacity until 2001.In 2004, Kagina was appointed Commissioner General of URA. She is credited with improving the URA’s financial performance and awarded the Corporate Leadership Award in February 2006, by Destiny Consult, an industry group, for turning around the performance of the tax body since her appointment to head the organization in 2004.In October 2010, her contract was renewed for another three years. Her monthly salary was reported to be UGX: 28 million (approximately: USD11.250).
On 27 April 2015, John Byabagambi, the Ugandan Minister for Works and Transport at that time, appointed her as the Executive Director of the Uganda Roads Authority (UNRA), effective 1 May 2015.
Kagina replaced Eng. Bernard Ssebbugga Kimeze who was acting in the position before he was suspended following a controversy surrounding the tender for the construction of the Mukono-Katosi road.
After transforming Uganda’s tax authority, Kagina joined the Uganda National Roads Authority to revitalize the organization and tackle corruption, after transforming Uganda’s tax body.
On 1st May 2015 when President Yoweri Museveni appointed Allen Kagina to head the Uganda UNRA, the body had sunk deep into jaw-dropping corruption. Exposure and investigations into the infamous Mukono-Katosi saga in which UNRA lost about Shs25 billion in a scheme abetted by some of its managers led to a mass sacking.
Still, Kagina needed to know the manner, extent, and means by which previous managers enriched themselves fraudulently on taxpayers’ money.
Many institutional reforms have laid the foundations for a new era for UNRA with Kagina, characterized by transparency, efficiency, and improved service for the Ugandan people.
With the fruits of the restructure and reforms that emerged, UNRA is keen to focus on the substantial task of paying the country’s 145,000km of roads and accommodating the burgeoning oil and gas sector.
Private sector involvement in the major road works is critical for success, and Mrs Kagina invites foreign partners to help pave the way for Uganda’s growth.
Kagina narrates that as the former Commissioner General URA, she got the opportunity to restructure the organization, which allowed her to create new teams and resolve issues of incompetency and corruption that had plagued the organization which helped her a lot in her current career as UNRA CG.
“I had a lot of support from the government, the board of UTRA, and the Ugandan public to make major changes to the organization. I was Commissioner-General, we made a lot of progress, but it was a team effort, supported and financed by the government. Overseeing transformational reforms at UTRA gave me an edge in dealing with similar issues at UNRA.”
Kagina says Corruption, poor service, and a lack of engagement with communities affected Uganda’s road works.
“In 2015, we had almost the same level of public disgust with UNRA as we once had with UTRA, coming from the outside poses its challenges – you do not know the institution as well as those who have been here for many years. Again, we’ve had a lot of support from our board and government. We went through a restructure, made a commitment to transformational change, and were given the financial resources to achieve that promise.”
Kagina further says the road sector is significantly different than the tax sector. The public must see the completed road to believing you are accomplishing anything.
However, the construction industry is a multi-year industry, unlike a tax, where you collect yearly revenue and demonstrate results annually.
Even if it takes time, Kagina says they are laying down the foundations for long-term change. Still, there have been visible and serious changes in the roads over the last few years.
“We are putting more paved kilometres down every year, we are seeing faster turnaround of payments, and we have shaved procurement timelines down from two years to 6-8 months by streamlining administrative reviews.”
Commenting on corruption in the sector, Kagina says it is being addressed, because the media is very free, which means that whenever they do something wrong, the media reports it extensively. It is not easy to hide things for long.
Additionally, Kagina stresses that institutions and the president have been very vocal about tackling corruption. So, for that reason, they are working hard to improve the sector’s systems to make them more transparent and implement processes for greater accountability.
Kagina in her view says corruption thrives where information is hidden. “And we have committed to the public to end those practices. It is a continuous fight, but we are seeing results. We are putting more paved kilometres down every year, we are seeing faster turnaround of payments, and we have shaved procurement timelines down from two years to 6-8 months.”
“We have a huge road network in this country. Uganda is not a very large country in the African context, yet we have 145,000km of roads in different shapes and conditions. Of that, 20,500km are part of the national network that crisis-crosses the country from border to border.”
“We have roads to primary areas of production and roads that link urban centres. The rest of the roads are managed municipally. Of that entire network, the paved network is only about 5,200km.”
“Of those 5,200km of paved roads, 4,000km is the UNRA network. This means a lot of the roads are in rough condition. In the mid-1980s, we had less than 1,000km paved in the whole country.”
There has been progressing, but there is still a lot to be done says Kagina. As part of the National Plan, they aim to pave 300km of tarmac every year. They want to set targets higher than that if resources are available.
UNRA can work on some of the smaller sections of the road, but the private sector provides critical partnerships for the larger road works says Kagina.
At the start of her tenure, Kagina had an enormous task at hand to prepare Uganda’s roads for the upcoming oil and gas operations. Approximately 600km of roads were required to be laid out before the oil business commences of which they have worked hard to achieve.
“In December 2016 we learned that we had to lay 600km of roads before the oil starts flowing in 2020, which gave us a two-year timeline for procurement and construction. To meet this very tight deadline, we set up a special task force comprised of specialists devoted to this 600km that would fast-track every single process from data collection, design, feasibility studies, land acquisition, and environmental studies.”
Kagina says the task force has been doing this since January 2017, and by the end of 2017, UNRA had already accomplished the procurement process and signed several contracts.
UNRA made sure that they complete the actual construction between 2018 and 2019, as the roads need to be functional and the heavy equipment in place by 2020.
In doing this, UNRA made sure that ecosystems were not destabilized by drawing better concern on the environment, such as water streams and animal crossings where they did thorough environmental studies.
UNRA as well made sure that the challenging parts of the pathways are completed and the equipment can still move even though the roads will not be fully paved by 2020 to meet their deadlines.
However, in the road construction process, UNRA makes sure that in their tenders in any project, local contractors 30 per cent participation must be local contractors. In this case, foreign contractors are encouraged to look for local partners.
The UK companies according to Kagina are directly involved in Uganda’s roads by supporting two challenging projects developing oil roads through one of the game parks, and UNRA receives financing from UK Export Finance.
“We have had several engagements with them, and British companies are participating in these projects. We have thousands of kilometres of roads to pave, and we hope to attract British companies to come work in Uganda on these projects. The opportunities are there, and we’re looking for good contractors that can help us build good roads. We’ve interacted with several British companies who have come for exploratory visits.”
Kagina says when reviewing tenders, they review the technical and financial bids holistically, so they are not limited to selecting whichever firm can create the lowest bid.
“We want our local companies to grow and believe that British companies can be extraordinary partners in terms of supervision and project design to help us facilitate that capacity building. Uganda’s economy has been fairly stable for a long period. We live in a country that has enjoyed peace for 30 years now, so the systems are in place to serve investors.”
“We can improve, of course, but which country can’t? We are keen to forge new partnerships with British companies that can come and work in the infrastructure sector, which is the foundation of the growth of our economy. We also want our local companies to grow and believe that British companies can be extraordinary partners in terms of supervision and project design to help us facilitate that capacity building.”
Allen Kagina’s next plan for roads in 2020
Kagina, a determined woman, said a lot has been done and more will be done in the coming months or years in line with roads and ferries development.
“UNRA is currently upgrading 23 road projects (new construction and upgrading from gravel to paved bituminous standards) covering a total distance of 1,581km, Kagina said. This represents over 50% achievement of the annual physical performance target of 40km equivalent in the half-year period.”
Kagina and the 1500 strong team she oversees at UNRA have set their sights on upcoming projects in the national roads network program that totals 1,715km.
“This will need Shs6.5 trillion over three years,” said Patrick Muleme, the UNRA Head of Design and Network Planning. This means that UNRA will require additional funding to meet its budget especially with regards to the project’s implementations.
UNRA has been designing and planning expressways, flyovers in the city on top of expanding and maintaining the national road network which is in progress.
Land acquisition headache
UNRA needs about Shs400billion this financial year of 2020/21 to settle compensation issues. However, this money is currently unavailable yet more projects are coming onboard meaning that UNRA will have to work harder on a leaner budget.
By the end of FY 2018/2019, UNRA had a debt of Shs47billion. Also, the ongoing projects under Government of Uganda development have a deficit of Shs500billion, Kagina said in 2019.
She added, “This means that the allocated budget to the 2019/20 work plan is short by approximately Shs980billion.”
Of the Shs4.2trillion, Shs71billion is for wages of the over 1500 staff employed by UNRA.
Allen Kagina – Key achievements as UNRA boss
Allen Kagina has managed to fight corruption and cancelled some illicit road contracts.
Restructuring: The Board approved the new UNRA structure with a total establishment of 9 Directorates and 1740 staff members. The staff established increased from about 1000 to 1740. Staff salaries increased by almost 3 fold in most positions.
Kagina made her first public move that came five months after she started work, she asked all 900 workers in UNRA, to reapply for their jobs. The screening exercise was part of a grander restructuring that was planned to raise the staff levels to 1700.
There were public uproar and threats of lawsuits. But Kagina’s core team appeared prepared for that and quietly quashed any dissent.
Stakeholders’ engagements: UNRA have had constructive engagements with local Government leaders, Property Affected Persons (PAPs), Members of Parliament, the Media, Development Partners, Service Provider and Civil Society Organizations. At the regional level, UNRA initiated the East African Road Authorities’ Forum. These engagements have increased UNRA’s social capital in terms of improved relationships, networks and partnerships.
In-house design capacity which has not only improved the quality of road designs but also saved the taxpayer billions of shillings. UNRA staffs designed all the rehabilitation roads, feasibility studies and preliminary designs for over 500km of oil roads. The same team completed the design of Atiak – Adjumani road funded by the EU.
UNRA established the Construction Unit: When Kagina joined UNRA; she promised that UNRA would construct roads using in-house capacity. Most people including her colleagues thought it was not possible. Today UNRA have made substantial progress in establishing the construction unit; the staff has been recruited and procurement of equipment.
UNRA managed to supervise in-house Moroto, Koboko-Maracha and Kamuli town roads, Rushere – Nshwerenkye and Nakalama – Tirinyi – Mbale roads. Now construction of 10km Kitala – Gerenge road is in progress expected to see completion in August 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic affecting the nation.
In-house Land Acquisition: UNRA stopped using consultants for land acquisition because of inefficiencies and corruption. They are now using in-house Teams and the process is much improved. Titles are being processed and returned to owners within a short time which was not the case before Kagina.
Procurement: UNRA has stopped insider trading and significantly reduced corruption in the procurement process. The remaining pockets of corruption in procurement are being investigated and the culprits will soon be brought to book. Those involved in corruption have no place in UNRA said Kagina the UNRA boss.
The Fika Salama Initiative: This initiative in collaboration with Uganda Police Force, drastically reduced road carnage on Kampala – Masaka road which had reached alarming proportions.
Road reserve: UNRA started the clearing of the road reserve by demolishing structures which were paid for but Project Affected Persons refused to vacate. According to Kagina, UNRA enforcement team has done a good job in sensitizing people not to encroach on the road reserve.
Social and environment safeguards: UNRA has made significant progress in turning around compliance with environmental and social safeguards which caused the cancellation of financing of Fort Portal – Kamwenge road project by the World Bank. According to Kagina UNRA is now a model in implementing social and environmental safeguards in Uganda.
Improved Systems: UNRA has improved the payment system which has significantly reduced delays in paying service providers. A modern IT system is being installed to replace the obsolete system Kagina and the team found in place. Internal controls have been strengthened; the vigilance of internal audit in verifying variations has saved the taxpayers a lot of money claimed by unscrupulous service providers.
Reduced cost legal service: UNRA stopped outsourcing legal services from private law firms. Kagina and the team found a huge bill of over sh17 billion which UNRA owed to law firms. We now handle all cases in-house and our team has won most of them which saved a lot of money.
UNRA Regulations: Since the enhancement of the UNRA in 2016, more than 10 years ago, there were no regulations to operationalize the Act. As a result, UNRA drafted the regulations; the Board approved them and submitted to the Minister of Works to issue a statutory instrument.
Strategic Plan: New strategic plan was drawn by Kagina team to provide the direction UNRA will take in its service.
Other achievement completed road projects by Kagina team
- Atiak – Nimule
- Ishaka – Kagamba
- Bundibugyo/Nyahuka Town roads
- Ntugamo – Mirama Hills
- Fort portal – Kamwenge
- Jinja – Kamuli
- Koboko – Maracha Town roads
- Moroto – Town roads
- 12 bridges were completed in the past 2 years
- Alla (20m) and Enyau (15M) Bridges in Arua Birara Bridges (Span 32m)
- Kyanzuki Bridge on Kasese Kilembe road (Span 39.2m)
- Pakwala (15m) and Nyacara (15m) Bridges in Nebbi
- Goli (20m0 and Nyagak (3 lines of 4.5m dia turbo sider culverts) Bridges in Nebbi
- Mitaano (60m) Bridges in Kanungu and Ntungwe (69m) Bridges in Kasese
- Emergency construction of Ndaiga Bridge along Bugiri-Malaba road section (Span 40m)
- Kabaale Bridge (linking Kyankwanzi to Ngoma in Nakaseke) (Span 100m)
- Ruboni access Bridge to Mt Magaritta tourist Site Kasese.
- Maliba – Nkenda – Bugoye – Nyakalingigo road in Kasese
- Agule – Aleles Ngora Bridge
- Buwanku Bridge on River Mayanja linking Nakaseke to Kyankwanzi in Ngoma Sub County
- 200km was gravelled; and 11,214km underwent routine mechanized maintenance.
- 2 modern ferries were acquired; Wanseko-Panyimur and Zengebe-Namasala
Following her excellent service, Allen Kagina’s contract as UNRA boss was renewed after her five-year term ended. This was announced by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala when he visited the UNRA headquarters in February 2020.
Katumba said that Kagina’s contract has been extended for the next five years, and this was because the organization had achieved a lot under her leadership. This was after an earlier notice from UNRA addressed to Gen Katumba recommending the extension of her contract.
Some of the key challenges faced by Kagina team 2017
Procurement delays caused by internal weaknesses and administrative review caused by bad losers. Evaluations are taking unacceptably too long.
Contract management is still a challenge. Most of them are not fully mobilized in terms of personnel and equipment. It was partly because of poor contract management which led to cancellation and suspension of funding for many road projects by World Bank largely due to poor management of the environment and social safeguards.
Teamwork at all levels is still a challenge. Staff members continue to work in silos and not taking advantage of synergies of working with others. Decision making is slow and sluggish and this is affecting our performance. Most staff lack confidence and fear of taking decision and responsibility.
Inadequate resources particularly transport and other logistical support. The budget for non-wage recurrent is not commensurate to UNRA’s business. This has resulted in inadequate and untimely facilitation.
Staff performance is still low partly due to capacity and in some cases due to incompetence. The productivity of staff is still unacceptably low. This is partly the cause of delayed procurement and completion of projects.
The cost of road construction remains very high with some roads projects going above USD 1 million per kilometre. This is unsustainable; the cost must be brought down.
Delayed feedback to internal and external stakeholders remains a challenge. Request for information or clarifications takes unnecessarily too long to get feedback.
We have also received negative publicity arising from COSASE business in Parliament hence affecting the image of the organization which we are trying to build.
“What I found was an institution, where to give credit where it is due; some good work had been done. There were many kilometres of roads that had been upgraded and rehabilitated, many roads being maintained, several bridges constructed, some ferries operating. However, UNRA was running with many audit queries, lack of clear accountability to the public and too much interference in the procurement process.”
Kagina says many of UNRA’s processes are still manual and bureaucratic meaning that service is not optimum. The UNRA Act requires us to operate in a businesslike manner. The processes that we are reviewing will facilitate new ways of doing business.
Allen Catherine Kagina – Family and Religious Affiliation
Allen Kagina is married to Paul Kagina. Together, they are the parents of three children, Dan, Michelle and Mark. She is a born-again Christian who loves praying and singing.
In 2019, Allen Kagina pinned the media for alleged negative news coverage on Pentecostal Pastors. She said several authentic Pastors in Uganda are preaching the true gospel and transforming the communities in which they live.
Kagina reasons that such Pastors are seemingly ignored by media or receive limited news coverage at the expense of their counterparts deemed controversial.
The UNRA boss made the remarks while responding to a journalist’s questions about moral decadence in church leaders today. Kagina was attending the Covenant Music album launch at Covenant Nations Church located in Luzira.
On the issue of false teachers and prophets, Kagina referred to the Bible in Mathew 24:11 saying it warns that in the last day’s false prophets will appear and deceive many people. She adds that believers have to beware, and remain rooted in Christ.
- BARBARA ITUNGO KYAGULANYI
Philanthropist and Author Of Golden Memories Of A Village Belle
Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi was born on 7th September 1982.She is a Ugandan philanthropist and author. She is the wife to Ugandan pop artist and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine.She is the author of “Golden Memories of a Village Belle” published in 2012.Barbie was born on the September 7, 1982, in Ntungamo District, South Western Uganda. Her parents are Doctors Gershom Kagaju and Joy Kagaju. She attended St. Helen’s Primary School, Nyamitanga in Mbarara, Bweranyangi Girl’s school for her O and A levels for six years.She then joined Makerere University where she studied Social work and Social Administration. She also completed an MA in Human Rights. Barbie met Bobi Wine when she was in high school while Bobi was a student of Music Dance and Drama at Makerere University. The two got married in 2011 at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala and have four children.In 2013, she founded Caring Hearts Uganda, an NGO with a focus on HIV/AIDS and cancer awareness, girl child education where she teaches girls traditional values, malaria eradication, life-long education, personal development and entrepreneurial skills to promote sustainable development for the youths. As such, she, through her NGO, has donated infrastructure to school for the internally displaced children and marginalized children.Barbie entered active politics in 2018 to support and campaign for her husband Bobi Wine to become a member of parliament and later for presidency in 2020 with her manifesto about the welfare of women, children, and the youths.She fought for the release of Bobi Wine when he was jailed at Nalufenya during his presidential campaigns in 2020 and was praised by the media when she told the BBC that the struggle for change wasn’t about her or her family but rather about the oppressed people of Uganda. She was later put under house arrest with her husband Bobi Wine. He also advocated for the end to military court martial to which civilians had been subjected.Barbara was awarded for her vocational Service Award by the Bugolobi Rotaract Club In 2018, she received an award for Excellence in Leadership award by The AidChild Leadership institute/Uganda. In 2020, she was awarded The teen’s most favorite social media star by Teenz Awards 2020. She was also awarded for supporting teen mothers by The Remnant Generation, an award that counsels and supports teen mothers in Uganda.
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ABOUT PUBLIC OPINIONS
The Publisher of the Uganda Top70 Law Firms Book of Records 2020
Public Opinions was founded by Makerere University students in 2004 in Lumumba Hall Makerere University and it operated as a study group on students welfare as well as Networking.
In 2008 it was incorporated as a company Limited by Guarantee by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
Public Opinions work towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
CORE SERVICES
- Issues Research
- Document Processing
- Public Awareness and Advisory Services
- Information Dissemination
- Public Relations
- Personal and Corporate Profiling
- Corporate Branding and Printing
- Training and Mentorship
- Investment Advisory Services
- Study Tours and Exchange Programs
MILESTONES/SOME ACHIEVEMENTS OF PUBLIC OPINIONS
- In 2009, Public Opinions organised a High Level United NATIONS Millennium Development Goals Dialogue at Hotel Africa Kampala and it attracted stakeholders from the Public and Private Sector, Religious Leaders and Diplomats.
- In 2009, Public Opinions organised 5 Small and Medium Enterprises Sessions for Youth Leaders such as at Gretton Hotel in Masaka which was addressed by Brig David Muhoozi who was commander of the Armoury Brigade in Masaka. Others Speakers included Prof Maggie Kigozi, Ambassador of ICELAND to UGANDA, Dr Kassim Omar who was Director of East Africa Business Council,etc. The Luwero SMEs Sessions for Youth Leaders organised by Public Opinions was presided over by Katikiro of Buganda JB Walusimbi and Hajji Abdul Nadduli.
- In 2010, Public Opinions organised the Buganda Youth Leaders Conference on wealth Creation. The conference was held at Katikomu Country Hotel in Kayunga and it was presided over by the Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi who was the minister for Security and Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).It was attended by youth leaders from Central Region. Key speakers were from Uganda Investment Authority and Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID).
- In 2011,Public Opinions organised a Kampala Wealth Creation Awareness Conference for Youth Leaders
- In 2012,Public Opinions organised the 2012 Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda
- In 2012,Public Opinions organised the Uganda Who is Who Summit at imperial Royale Hotel and launched a book titled Uganda Who is Who Book of Records launched by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi
- In 2013, Public Opinions organised the Pearl of Africa Lfetime Achievement Award (PALITA Award) in which over 80 High Profile Personalities were awarded and inducted in the Uganda Who is who Book of Records. Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Presided over.
- In 2014, Public Opinions organised the 2014 High Level Uganda Responsible Investmen Summit and Award Ceremony in which 50 Responsible Investments were awarded. The Ceremony was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda, Rt Hon Amama Mbababazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Prof Emmanuel Mutebile Governor Bank of Uganda.
- In 2017,Public Opinions recognised the Embassy of Italy to Uganda with the 2017 Uganda Transformation Award. The Award was received by the Ambassador of Italy .
- In 2017, Public Opinions recognised the European Union Delegation to Uganda with the 2017 Uganda Transformation award. The Award was received by the Ambassador of European Union Delegation to Uganda
- In November 2017,Public Opinions recognised the University of Bologna in Italy with the Global Sustainable Development Award as the oldest continuing University in the world. The Award was received by the Rector University of Bologna in his Office in the city of Bologna in Italy. This was followed with a meeting between Rector University of Bologna and Luzindana adam Buyinza Team Leader of Public Opinions.
- In 2018,Public Opinions in partnership with the Asia Africa Development Council in new Delhi India organised the Asia Africa Development Summit in New Delhi Republic of India.
- In 2016, Public Opinions and Computer Society of India together with Asia Africa development Council organised the India-Africa ICT Summit. The summit was held in New Delhi Capital of the Republic of India.
- On 22nd November 2019, Public Opinions held a High Level Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Hon Evelyn Anite Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation. During the Summit, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was declared the Uganda Peace and Development Champion by Public Opinions and 62 Uganda Responsible Investments were recognised with the 2019 Uganda Responsible Investment Award (URI Award).
- With the Outbreak of the Global Pandemic the COVID 19, Public Opinions participated in mass social media and field based Public Awareness and Advisory service to senstise the people of Uganda on COVID 19,How its transmitted and how Ugandans can stay Safe.
Since its founding in 2004, Public Opinions as been involved in mass information dissemination across the country,Public Awareness,Research,Training and mentorship of young people and in communities, Business Advisory services to small and medium enterprises in trading centres, etc.
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Public Opinions
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Opposite City Hall KCCA
Kimathi Avenue
Tel:+256701992426
Email:[email protected]
Web:www.publicopinions.net
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