Betty Amongi

Betty Amongi Akena, (née Betty Amongi Ongom), but commonly known as Betty Amongi, is a Ugandan politician. She is the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development[1] in the Cabinet of Uganda, as of 9 June 2021. Previously, she served as the Cabinet Minister of Kampala Capital City[2] 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.[3] She is also the incumbent member of parliament representing the Oyam South Constituency in the 11th Parliament (2021 to 2026).

Betty Amongi
Born (1975-11-15) 15 November 1975
Oyam District, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
EducationMakerere University
(Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration)
(Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies)
OccupationPolitician
Years active1998 – present
TitleMinister of Gender, Labour and Social Development
Spouse
Jimmy Akena
​
(m. 2013)​

Background and education

Betty Amongi was born in Oyam District, Lango sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda, on 15 November 1975.[4] 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.[4]

Career

Betty Amongi was first elected to parliament in 2001 as the woman member of parliament for Oyam district and was re-elected in 2006 before being elected as the woman member for parliament for Oyam South in 2011 and 2016.[5] 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.[6]

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.[2]

In June 2021, Amongi was appointed Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development in the new cabinet.

Personal

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. Jimmy 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.[7]

See also

References
  1. "NEW CABINET: Museveni drops Kutesa, 10 ministers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021.
  2. Monitor (14 December 2019). "Museveni Shuffles Cabinet, Drops Muloni, Appoints Magyezi". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  3. Uganda State House (6 June 2016). "Museveni's new cabinet list At 6 June 2016" (PDF). Daily Monitor. Kampala. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. POU (October 2016). "Parliament of Uganda Members of the 10th Parliament: Amongi Betty Ongom". Kampala: Parliament of Uganda (POU). Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  5. Jacob, Ocen (19 January 2021). "Uganda's 28 longest serving MPs in eleventh Parliament". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  6. Sadab Kitatta Kaaya (8 June 2016). "Uganda: Cabinet - How Museveni Got the Opposition In". The Observer (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com. Kampala. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  7. Chris Ocowun, and Bonney Odongo (8 April 2013). "MP Jimmy Akena finds his missing rib in Amongi". New Vision. Kampala. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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