The women who trounced men in parliamentary races

Just like in the 10th Parliament that had only 19 directly elected woman MPs out of the 116, the status in the 11th Parliament will not be any different.

Here are women who trounced men in the political contest on Thursday, to represent their constituents in Parliament.

Hanifah Kawooya, MP Mawogola West

Kawooya has vast experience in politics; she is one to thrive during elections. She always wins in the most difficult circumstances.

Kawooya started her political career during the Constituent Assembly elections in 1994 in Masaka district, before Ssembabule was carved out of it. She has been close to Sam Kutesa, something which gave her an advantage in her political career, even though the two have since fallen out.

She is also a staunch NRM mobiliser. This drew massive support for her. She is shrewd when it comes to elections. Her competitors have always challenged her qualifications, but she has always pulled through.

She was instrumental in the legal challenges that Ssekikubo faced during the battle to lift the prolonged foot and mouth quarantine in Ssembabule. This worked for her as it attracted massive support among locals as well as the opposition.

She also mobilised for the creation of Mawoogola West constituency and trounced Joseph Sekabito and will now represent Mawogola West.

Betty Amongi, Oyam South (UPC but NRM-leaning)

She replaced Beti Kamya as the Minister for Kampala affairs. She seemed destined to lose the Oyam South Parliamentary seat as the preliminary results came in, but, somehow, Betty Amongi pulled through to become the Member of Parliament for Oyam South.

Ever since she left Apac district as Woman MP when Oyam district was carved out of Apac, she has never lost an election.

Amongi is the wife of Lira City East MP-elect Jimmy Akena, a UPC party leader, and son of former president Milton Obote.

Amongi saw off stiff competition from Quin Dorothy, who returned from the US to contest for the position, and another UPC leader, Issa Otto Amija, the Secretary General of the UPC faction that is led by Peter Walubiri.

Goretti Namugga, MP Mawogola South

The former principal procurement officer for Masaka city resigned her job to contest for the Mawogola South MP position. Many people thought the decision was unwise, but Namugga, affiliated to the National Unity Platform (NUP), won the seat.

She saw off competition from the powerful Bez Byuma, a former political assistant of Sam Kutesa, who is also a former district vice-chairperson of Sembabule district.

She served as district service commission chairperson and owns schools in Sembabule.

Namugga capitalised on the collapse of a micro-finance institution, where her opponent Byuma was held responsible. Many voters had shares in the micro-finance institution and have never recovered their money.

Close to sh1b is said to have got lost. Namugga hails from Mateete, where Hanifa Kawooya was born, something which worked in her favour. Even though she was contesting on a NUP ticket, she stayed close to the NRM party members. Also, Robert Kyagulanyi’s visit to Mateete could have boosted her support.

Christine Akello, Erute North (NRM)

It was the second time for Akello, a teacher by profession, to contest after losing in the previous election. She beat the incumbent, Charles Angiro Gutumoi.

Christine Akello’s win in Erute North did not come easy. She lost in the NRM primaries to Geoffrey Omara Adigi.

However, she filed a petition before the NRM Electoral Commission and Adigi’s win was overturned.

Margaret Muhanga, MP Fort Portal City Northern Division (NRM)

Margaret Muhanga has been the Burahya County MP. However, following the recent creation of Fort Portal city, she crossed to Fort Portal city Northern Division, where she has been elected MP. Muhanga, who belongs to the NRM party, has tasted victory as well as defeat before.

She defeated three men — Solomon Ruhundwa, Muzinga Kazooba, and Frank Muhumuza.

Molly Ondoru Ruth, MP Maracha East (NRM)

She defeated James Achidri (incumbent and independent, having lost in the NRM primaries. She is a retired nurse and runs a private nursing school in Maracha.

Huda Oleru, MP Aringa East Constituency (NRM)

From 2011-2016, she was the Woman MP for Yumbe district.

This time, she contested for the MP for the new Aringa East Constituency, which was carved out of Aringa County in Yumbe district.

She has been serving in the NRM secretariat. She met stiff competition from businessman Omia Zubair Juvenile and will represent the new Aringa East Constituency in the 11^th Parliament.

Betty Nambooze, Mukono Municipality

She has been a big force in the Democratic Party and MP for Mukono municipality.

Nambooze crossed to the National Unity Platform after sensing a strong wave that would have given her opponent, George Kagimu, an edge over her. Kagimu contested on the DP ticket.

Naomi Kabasharira, Rushenyi County

Naomi Kabasharira represented Ntungamo district in Parliament before losing the seat to Beatrice Rwakimari. After a short rest, she came for the direct seat of Rushenyi, which has been represented by minister Mwesigwa Rukutana, since 1996.

After the hotly contested NRM primary elections of September last year, Kabasharira lost to Rukutana. However, she contested as an independent. She has defeated Rukutana and ended his 25-year reign in the constituency.

Santa Okot, Aruu North, Pader (Independent)

She was the Woman Member of Parliament for Pader district, but lost the seat and has been out of Parliament.

This time, Santa Okot is bouncing back not as a woman MP, but a directly elected MP representing Aruu North. She saw off competition from about six people, including Aciro Otim and Julius Ochieng, to become the MP representing Aruu North.

Persis Namuganza, Bukono Namutumba (NRM)

She is the state minister for lands and has retained her seat as the MP for Bukono in Namutuma.

Namuganza served as the deputy Resident Commissioner for Luwero district and came to Bukono to contest for Member of Parliament.

It is the second time she is contesting and winning. She faced off with about four contestants, including the NUP candidate and former speaker of Namutumba district.

Baroda Watongola Kayanga, MP Kamuli Municipality, Kamuli District (NRM)

She is going to Parliament for the first time. Baroda Watongola Kayanga is the daughter to the late Kamuli Municipality MP Rehema Watongola who passed away recently, after contracting coronavirus.

Kayanga is replacing her mother and will shoulder the responsibility of carrying on the work her mother was doing in the constituency.

She saw off competition from NUP’s Moses Bigirwa and NRM’s Namatovu Mastula, to become Member of Parliament for Kamuli Municipality in the 11th Parliament.