The year 2005 and its women achievers
by Angela Nampewo

December 24, 2005 - (The Daily Monitor) Women seem to have decided to jump all hurdles and reach out for those positions that would have otherwise been dominated by men.

Miria Kalule Obote - Uganda’s first female presidential candidate
Barely three months ago, she was just a grieving former first lady returning home for the first time in twenty years. But once she stepped on home ground, the transformation from the Late Milton Obote's widow to his successor was swifter than most people could have predicted.Miria Nanfuka Kalule Obote, daughter to the late Bulasio Kalule of Kawempe and wife of 41 years to the Late Milton Obote, has been acknowledged in family circles as one of Obote's greatest confidantes.To prove how closely she worked with him, Miria lays claim to have lobbied her late husband to open up girls' schools such as Tororo Girls School, Wanyange Girls School and Nabisunsa in order to give girls a chance to enter more challenging fields that had previously been a no-go area for girls. In fact she adds, "Even the present gender ministry took a lot of bedroom negotiation with my husband."

Probably owing to the fact that she had already been leading from behind the scenes, the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) membership found the 70-year-old Obote to be the most appropriate person to assume the mantle of leadership after her departed husband.

Consequently, even though she came onto the scene late this year, Miria Obote managed a feat that no Ugandan woman has ever accomplished. She is the President-General of the Uganda Peoples Congress, (UPC)'s nominated presidential candidate for 2006 and the first and only woman presidential aspirant in the race.

Beti Kamya
The daughter of a politician, the late George Wilson Kamya, Beti Olive Turwomwe Kamya is no stranger to politics and certainly not the opposition.The eloquent former Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe resigned her position to join politics. One of the founder members of the Pressure group Reform Agenda, Kamya was a key figure in the formation of the Forum for Democratic Change party, when the multiparty system went into force. She has remained in the spotlight for most of 2005 as one of FDC's most vocal figures advocating and promising Dr. Kizza Besigye's return from exile. Although she was edged out of the race for party secretary general at the party's delegates' conference, Kamya has remained very active in the party. She was at the forefront of FDC leadership that condemned the arrest of their leader.

Kamya, now a Special envoy in the office of the president of FDC, has since been in and out of Luzira bearing messages from Dr. Besigye. She is one of the women who have been making political news in 2005.

Rita Okuthe
She used to come to Uganda on business trips as marketing Manager for Energiser batteries in East Africa. Then she met Eric Van Veen, then MTN marketing manager on the plane in 2001 and her fortunes changed. It wasn't long before she replaced Van Veen in that position. Judging from how visible she has been, Rita Okuthe has done well for herself and for MTN since. After the first lady, Ms Janet Museveni, Okuthe is arguably the most covered woman of the year. Probably in line with MTN's tagline, 'Everywhere you go', Okuthe has been all over the press. However, as most people will agree, especially the women, this year, Okuthe has been covered for all the rights reasons.

Early in the year, she unveiled the novel idea codenamed Yellorose; which turned out to be a women's club that brings together women achievers, women of promise and women with potential from all walks of life. Yellorose even hosted South African first lady Zanele Mbeki. Being the photogenic and well-dressed woman that she is, the snappers couldn't help taking Okuthe's pictures at all those parties and social events or whenever the opportunity arose.

Juliana Kanyomozi
From a little-known but hugely talented RnB artiste into a nationally recognised star, songstress Juliana Kanyomozi not only managed to overhaul her image (and her hairstyle), she had Ugandans singing along to a different tune this year.

Following in the trail of the two successful collaborations with singer Bobi Wine (Maama W'abaana y'ani and Maama Mbiire), Juliana went solo in the hit song Nabikoowa, which aside from hitting on the local radio charts, was so popular that it won the singer the awards of Best RnB artiste and Best RnB single of the year at the annual Pearl of Africa Music Awards held in Lugogo.

Kanyomozi scooped four awards in all, including that of song of the year and best female artiste. For a musician, the year couldn't have been better.

Helen Kakyo
Unlike other girls of her age and background, Helen Kakyo's first priority after Senior Six was not higher education but rather a job in a salon. Her mother wasn't pleased in the least. But that did not stop Helen. The daughter of former diplomats, Alex and Joan Okwanga went ahead to perfect her hairdressing skills, saving enough money in the process to start her own salon. Then she applied for a job with 'Dark and Lovely' and sold her salon, moving in to concentrate on her job. With additional training in management, Helen Kakyo rose through the ranks at 'Dark and Lovely', and after nine years with the Beauty products company, Kakyo has made it to the top as the Country Manager for 'Dark and Lovely' as well as 'Softsheen Carson brands in Uganda. Judging by the popularity of the brands that Kakyo is overseeing, she is a woman at the top who has been doing a very good job in 2005.

Angella Katatumba
The daughter of prominent businessman Bonny Katatumba jetted onto the musical scene last year from Chicago. By April of 2005, she had launched two singles in quick succession; Standing in the Rain; and I live for you.
In June this year, she decided to join the duet club when she released a dancehall track titled One Minute man, featuring Bebe Cool. Later, she went into full-scale collaboration with the dread-locked singer in their song, Sikyeetaga. More recently Angella Katatumba has been in the news for performing at charity events, hosting fundraisers and soliciting donations for her Gulu Aid Initiative. Most importantly, this year, we have witnessed the coming-of-age of an artist that Ugandans barely knew a year ago.

Pastor Jessica Kayanja
Jessica Kayanja, wife to Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre and a pastor in her own right, has been the most visible woman in Church circles this year. After months of preparation and appearances at high profile national women events, in August this year, Jessica Kayanja unveiled her own brand of feminine strength. At a prayer breakfast, to which she invited more than 1,000 women, Kayanja launched the “Girl Power” Ministry along with her book that is titled Girl Power. It is Pastor Kayanja's belief that every woman possesses 'that internal magnet, that power that can take light where darkness has been and that in-built capacity to draw millions to God's Kingdom.'

Janet Museveni - To contest for parliamnet
She will go down in the annals of history as Uganda's first sitting First lady to seek elective political office. Besides the fact that she was making an unprecedented move, Janet Museveni's intentions to join the eighth parliament made news because of the timing of her bid and the controversy it stirred. It all started with the Draft Janet Camp led by junior finance minister Mwesigwa Rukutana, which petitioned the First Lady to run for MP in Ruhama constituency.

The first hints that the first Lady would heed their call came in November this year, at a fundraiser for Bwongyera Girl's S.S when Ms Museveni said, "Now that the people of Ruhama have asked me to contest for the parliamentary seat, I may soon be nearer you and assist you the more."

Janet Museveni, wife to President Yoweri Museveni is a mother of four, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from Makerere University and a diploma in Early Childhood Development from Sweden.The first lady is the founder and patron of Uganda Women's Effort to Save Orphans, a children's concern that dates back to 1986. Apart from the parallel political campaign she mounted for her husband in the run-up to the 2001 elections, Janet Museveni has been involved with Uganda Women's Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO) and similar organisations helping orphans, widows, furthering the cause of the girl-child and helping foster the notion of sexual abstinence among the youth. Despite her husband's objections and public outcry from people who thought the First Lady's candidature would put her in an awkward position, Ms Museveni pressed on with her intentions.

Janet Kataha Museveni, daughter of the late Edward Kataha is now the NRM's only parliamentary candidate for the Ruhama Constituency in Ntungamo district. Ms Museveni's reasons for joining politics are just as remarkable as the person who has given them.

"I debated this (political move) with God and as a family. My husband even took it to the NRM executive, asking them if this is really something I should do. I told NEC that whatever you do just remember this is not my making. God has sent me to do this and when God sends me I must obey," she said.

Dorcus Inzikuru
While the nation was still mourning Sudanese Vice President, Dr. John Garang, and the Ugandan plane crew that perished with him, Dorcus Inzikuru momentarily lifted the country out of the gloom when she made history for the country at the tenth World Athletics championships in Helsinki.The daughter of two former athletes, and the first-born in a family of eight, Inzikuru grew up trying to emulate her parents. The athlete who was first spotted at the Arua District Primary Schools' competition went on to win her first gold medal in 2000. Before her latest gold-medal win, Inzikuru was voted sports personality of the years, 2000 and 2002.On August 8, Inzikuru won gold in the Women's steeplechase final, making her only the second Ugandan to win a gold medal in a major world event since the gold medal won by the late John Akii-Bua at the 1972 Olympics meet in Munich.This was Inzikuru's fourth medal in a major world event, since winning her first in 2000 at the World Junior championships in Santiago, Chile.

Allen Kagina
Having been appointed Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority at the end of 2004, Allen Kagina came into the limelight as the iron lady when the institutional shake-up she had announced in December started unravelling. In a massive restructuring exercise that trimmed the number of departments from ten to five, Kagina scrapped the posts of Deputy Commissioner-General and Deputy Commissioner.With the necessary structural changes in place, Kagina embarked on a campaign to clean up URA's image, which was in tatters after the Sebutinde probe. This year, Allen Kagina embarked on a corporate social responsibility drive, where she has been at the forefront (at least as depicted in the press) of URA's social activities, which ranged from blood donation to material contribution to the victims of the war in the North. Allen Kagina is definitely up there on the list of most visible women in the corporate world this year.

Faith Mwondha
On January 13, this year, President Yoweri Museveni appointed High court judge Faith Kalikwani Mwondha to the position of Inspector General of government (IGG), replacing Jotham Tumwesigye, whose term had expired in November 2004.

Mwondha who started her judicial career as a Grade I magistrate in Jinja rose to become chief magistrate in Jinja before quitting the judiciary to join politics. However, she returned to the Judiciary in 2002. Until she was appointed, Justice Mwondha was the second Resident judge for the eastern circuit based in Mbale.
In taking up her appointment, Mwondha became the third person, but very first woman to hold the position of IGG since the Inspector General of Government Statute was enacted in 1987.

Cecilia Ogwal
Someone was trying to unseat the 59-year-old graduate of Commerce (B.com) and Member of Parliament for Lira Municipality in her own home district. Clearly, there were some people in the party who wanted her out of the way but they were using underhand methods (or so Cecilia alleged). However, UPC's strongwoman was having none of it. Her alleged saboteurs said she had arrived late for the UPC party primaries' elections. Cecilia Ogwal came out in the press to say that could not be so. She put up a spirited fight against her detractors denouncing the election fraud in the press, earning herself a place in the ranks of the most assertive women of the year.

Betty Bigombe
Betty Oyella Bigombe is a former minister and consultant to the World Bank. She is an ethnic Acholi and has been involved in peace negotiations to end the insurgency of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) since 1994. As of 2005 she was acting as chief mediator between the LRA and government of Uganda. She has a Masters degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. As well as English and Acholi, she speaks Kiswahili and Japanese.

Bigombe was elected a minister of parliament in 1986, a post she would hold until 1996. In 1988, President Yoweri Museveni appointed her "Minister of State for Pacification of Northern Uganda, Resident in Gulu," a post in which she was tasked with convincing the LRA rebels to give up their struggle. Protests at the connotations of the word "pacification" led to the renaming of the post to "Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Resident in Northern Uganda." Following the failure of military efforts to defeat the rebels, Bigombe initiated contact with rebel leader Joseph Kony in June 1993. This began what would be known as the "Bigombe talks". In 1993 she was named Uganda's Woman of the Year for her efforts to end the violence.

In 1997, she left government service to take a fellowship award at the Harvard Institute for International Development. She then became a senior social scientist with the Post conflict unit at the World Bank and then a consultant to the Bank's Social Protection and Human Development units.She has co-authored several articles on post-conflict, peace building and the impact of conflict on women and children. Since at least March 2004, Bigombe has been the chief mediator in a new peace initiative with the Lord's Resistance Army. She is believed to one of the few individuals with credibility to both sides.Late this year, Betty Bigombe received the Guinness Power of Goodness award for the month of June in recognition of her selfless dedication to bring a peaceful end to the war in Northern Uganda.

Annet Nandujja
Annet Nandujja, who is described as a high class popular cultural artiste, along with her group, 'the Planets', have remained a firm favourite on the cultural music in the last decade. However, this year, Nandujja did the unexpected. The singer, composer and dancer, whose performances were often put on at the request and for the pleasure of guests at private functions, climbed on to the musical stage in style to claim her place up there with the best. She launched a musical album. Her efforts and persistence for all the years were rewarded at this year's Pearl of Africa Music Awards when she received the award for Best Cultural artiste/Group. For Annet Nandujja, it's been a truly remarkable year.

Beatrice Were
Fourteen years ago when she was first diagnosed with HIV, Beatrice Were was fresh out of school, newly married and barely 25 years of age. She was a struggling mother of two, with no job, no hope or sense of direction.
It took many years and a lot of courage to reveal her status, first to her family and later to the public. With the stigma that goes with being HIV positive, it wasn't easy rebuilding her life.

However, being the optimistic and humorous person that she is, Were did not sink into despair. Rather, she picked herself up, asked for help and began to work at restoring her health and dignity. In a bid to help women in similar circumstances, she founded the National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (NACWOLA). Were, who considers herself a mentor for women living with HIV/Aids, is now the team leader on HIV/Aids and Sexual Reproductive Health rights, Policy and Advocacy at Action Aid International Uganda, where she is a shining example of women living positively everywhere.

For her strength and hard work in the area of HIV/Aids, Were was crowned this year's Human Rights Defender of the Year by Human Rights Watch. For a woman who has carved a positive life out of nothing and who has managed to spread the message of hope to so many, the award is no mean accolade.

From: http://www.monitor.co.ug/fullwoman/fwoman123114.php