Norbert Mao
Encyclopedia
Norbert Mao is a Uganda
n lawyer
and politician
. He is the current president of the Democratic Party
, and the Local Council 5
(LC5) Chairman for Gulu District
.
, and briefly went to Wairaka College, in Jinja District
, before attending Namilyango College
, a prestigious all boys boarding high school in Mukono District
, from 1982 until 1988. He then attended Makerere University
between 1988 until 1991, graduating with a law degree LLB. He served as the president of the Makerere University Students Guild between 1990 and 1991. He went on to obtain the Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center
in 1992. In 2003, Mao was admitted to Yale University
, under that university's World Fellows Program
, where he spent one year at the New Haven, Connecticut
campus.
-based law firm. Between 1994 and 1996, he worked as Legal Counsel of the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society
, in their Gulu
office. In 1996 he was elected the Ugandan Parliament, representing Gulu Municipality
. While in parliament, he served on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and on the Public Accounts Committee. He resigned from Parliament in 2006, and was elected Chairman of Gulu District
, a position he holds until today.
Mao is chairman of the East Africa
n chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) and member of its Secretariat. Also, he helped found the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace (AMANI Forum
). He was instrumental in trying to bridge the gap between the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) rebels and the Ugandan government
by lobbying for the passage of a general amnesty
law aimed at bringing a peaceful resolution to armed conflict in Northern Uganda.
and has publicly indicated his intention to contest the 2011 Ugandan presidential elections, either as the nominee of his party or if not nominated on the party ticket, as an independent.
Norbert Mao was elected as President of the Democratic Party (DP) on February 20, 2010 and ran for President of Uganda in the 2011 general election. The DP faced a lot of challenges that led to a split and deep polarization at the height of the election. He attracted only a small share of the vote, and President Yoweri Museveni was elected to another term. Norbert Mao and Inter Party Coalition presidential candidates Kizza Besigy and Olara Otunu, among others, protested the election results in spite of its early approval by international observers and the US as largely free and fair. Mao speaks Luo
, Luganda, Runyankole and English
fluently.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the current president of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Uganda)
The Democratic Party is a moderate conservative political party in Uganda currently led by Norbert Mao. DP was led by Paul Ssemogerere for 25 years until his retirement in November 2005...
, and the Local Council 5
Local Council
A Local Council is a form of local elected government within the districts of Uganda. They were initially established as rebel support structures in the areas controlled by the National Resistance Army of Yoweri Museveni. At this time, they were known as Resistance Councils and proved...
(LC5) Chairman for Gulu District
Gulu District
Gulu District is a district in Northern Uganda. The district is named after its chief municipal, administrative and commercial center, the town of Gulu.-Location:...
.
Background
He was born on March 12, 1967. His father was Acholi and his mother was a Munyankole. Both his parents are deceased as of September 2009.Education
Norbert Mao attended Mwiri Primary School, in JinjaJinja, Uganda
Jinja is the largest town in Uganda, Africa. It is the second busiest commercial center in the country, after Kampala, Uganda's capital and only city. Jinja was established in 1907.-Location:...
, and briefly went to Wairaka College, in Jinja District
Jinja District
Jinja District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its main municipal and commercial center, Jinja.-Location:...
, before attending Namilyango College
Namilyango College
Namilyango College is a boys-only boarding middle and high school located in Mukono District in Central Uganda.-Location:The school is situated on a lush green campus on Namilyango Hill, approximately , by road, east of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. It's approximately , by road,...
, a prestigious all boys boarding high school in Mukono District
Mukono District
Mukono District is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town' - Mukono.-Location:Mukono District is bordered by Kayunga District to the north, Buikwe District to the east, the Republic of Tanzania to the south, Kalangala District to the...
, from 1982 until 1988. He then attended Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
between 1988 until 1991, graduating with a law degree LLB. He served as the president of the Makerere University Students Guild between 1990 and 1991. He went on to obtain the Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center
Law Development Center
The Law Development Centre , is an educational institution for higher learning that offers various legal courses, ranging from one month to one year.-Overview:...
in 1992. In 2003, Mao was admitted to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, under that university's World Fellows Program
Yale World Fellows Program
The Yale World Fellows Program is a program run by Yale University that seeks to build a network of emerging global leaders and broaden international understanding at Yale...
, where he spent one year at the New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
campus.
Work experience
From 1992 until 1994, Norbert Mao worked as an Associate Attorney in the offices of Kabugo and Co. Advocates, a KampalaKampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
-based law firm. Between 1994 and 1996, he worked as Legal Counsel of the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society
Uganda Law Society
The Uganda Law Society is an association of lawyers charged with ensuring high levels of professionalism among lawyers in Uganda.The Uganda Law Society was formed by an act of 1956....
, in their Gulu
Gulu
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The city is located at 2˚46'48N 32˚18'00E, on the metre gauge railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Gulu is located approximately , by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
office. In 1996 he was elected the Ugandan Parliament, representing Gulu Municipality
Gulu
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The city is located at 2˚46'48N 32˚18'00E, on the metre gauge railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Gulu is located approximately , by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
. While in parliament, he served on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and on the Public Accounts Committee. He resigned from Parliament in 2006, and was elected Chairman of Gulu District
Gulu District
Gulu District is a district in Northern Uganda. The district is named after its chief municipal, administrative and commercial center, the town of Gulu.-Location:...
, a position he holds until today.
Mao is chairman of the East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
n chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) and member of its Secretariat. Also, he helped found the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace (AMANI Forum
AMANI Forum
The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace, better known as the AMANI Forum, is an Africa-focused organization based in Nairobi, Kenya that works to promote peace and democracy, and to mitigate conflict in the African Great Lakes region. AMANI Forum was formed in 1998 by regional...
). He was instrumental in trying to bridge the gap between the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA) rebels and the Ugandan government
Politics of Uganda
Uganda is a presidential republic, in which the President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government; there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly...
by lobbying for the passage of a general amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
law aimed at bringing a peaceful resolution to armed conflict in Northern Uganda.
Personal details
Norbert Mao is married to Naomi, they have two sons. He belongs to the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Uganda)
The Democratic Party is a moderate conservative political party in Uganda currently led by Norbert Mao. DP was led by Paul Ssemogerere for 25 years until his retirement in November 2005...
and has publicly indicated his intention to contest the 2011 Ugandan presidential elections, either as the nominee of his party or if not nominated on the party ticket, as an independent.
Norbert Mao was elected as President of the Democratic Party (DP) on February 20, 2010 and ran for President of Uganda in the 2011 general election. The DP faced a lot of challenges that led to a split and deep polarization at the height of the election. He attracted only a small share of the vote, and President Yoweri Museveni was elected to another term. Norbert Mao and Inter Party Coalition presidential candidates Kizza Besigy and Olara Otunu, among others, protested the election results in spite of its early approval by international observers and the US as largely free and fair. Mao speaks Luo
Acholi language
Acholi is a language primarily spoken by the Acholi people in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, a region known as Acholiland in northern Uganda. Acholi is also spoken in the southern part of the Opari District of South Sudan...
, Luganda, Runyankole and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
fluently.