Winnie Byanyima
Encyclopedia
Winifred "Winnie" Byanyima (born 1 January 1957) is a Uganda
n aeronautical engineer, politician
and diplomat
. She has served as the Director of the Gender Team, in the Bureau for Development Policy at the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), since 2006.
, in Western Uganda
. Her parents are Boniface Byanyima, one-time National Chairman of the Democratic Party in Uganda
, and Gertrude Byanyima, a former school teacher, who died in November 2008. Winnie Byanyima attended Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga
, in Buikwe District
. She went on to obtain a degree in aeronautical engineering, outside Uganda
, becoming the first female Ugandan to become an Aeronautical Engineer.
for the now-defunct Uganda Airlines
. When Yoweri Museveni
started the 1981 -1986 NRA War, Byanyima left her job and joined him. Museveni and Byanyima had grown up together at the Byanyima household when both of them were young.
After the NRA won that war, Byanyima became an active participant in Ugandan politics. She served as a member of the Constituent Assembly
that drafted the Ugandan 1995 Constitution. She then served two consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament, representing Mbarara Municipality
, from 1994 until 2004. In 2004, she was appointed Director of the Directorate of Women, Gender and Development at the headquarters of the African Union
in Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
. She served in that capacity until she was appointed as Director of the Gender Team in the Bureau for Development Policy in November 2006.
, the Chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change
(FDC) political party in Uganda. Together, they are the parents of one son called Anselm. Byanyima is a member of the FDC party, although she has significantly reduced her participation in partisan Ugandan politics since she became a Ugandan diplomat in 2006. She has five siblings: Edith, Anthony, Martha, Abraham and Olivia.
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 aeronautical engineer, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. She has served as the Director of the Gender Team, in the Bureau for Development Policy at the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP), since 2006.
Background
She was born in Mbarara DistrictMbarara District
Mbarara District is a district in Western Uganda. The district was named after its chief municipal centre, the city of Mbarara, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, in Western Uganda
Western Region, Uganda
Western Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Her parents are Boniface Byanyima, one-time National Chairman of the Democratic Party in Uganda
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 Gertrude Byanyima, a former school teacher, who died in November 2008. Winnie Byanyima attended Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga
Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga
Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga is an all-girl boarding school located in Buikwe District in Uganda. The school is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lugazi.-Location:...
, in Buikwe District
Buikwe District
Buikwe District is a district in the Central Region of Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town', Buikwe, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
. She went on to obtain a degree in aeronautical engineering, outside Uganda
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...
, becoming the first female Ugandan to become an Aeronautical Engineer.
Work experience
Following the completion of her training as an aeronautical engineer, Ms. Byanuyima worked as a flight engineerFlight engineer
Flight engineers work in three types of aircraft: fixed-wing , rotary wing , and space flight .As airplanes became even larger requiring more engines and complex systems to operate, the workload on the two pilots became excessive during certain critical parts of the flight regime, notably takeoffs...
for the now-defunct Uganda Airlines
Uganda Airlines
Uganda Airlines was the flag carrier of Uganda. The airline was established in May 1976, and started operations in 1977. It was headquartered in Entebbe, Wakiso District, Uganda, and operated from its hub in Entebbe International Airport under the IATA airline code QU and the ICAO airline code code...
. When Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
started the 1981 -1986 NRA War, Byanyima left her job and joined him. Museveni and Byanyima had grown up together at the Byanyima household when both of them were young.
After the NRA won that war, Byanyima became an active participant in Ugandan politics. She served as a member of the Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
that drafted the Ugandan 1995 Constitution. She then served two consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament, representing Mbarara Municipality
Mbarara
Mbarara is a town in Western Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Mbarara District and the location of the district headquarters. It is also the largest urban centre in Western Uganda.-Location:...
, from 1994 until 2004. In 2004, she was appointed Director of the Directorate of Women, Gender and Development at the headquarters of the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. She served in that capacity until she was appointed as Director of the Gender Team in the Bureau for Development Policy in November 2006.
Personal details
Winnie Byanyima is married to Kizza BesigyeKizza Besigye
Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe, commonly known as Kizza Besigye, is a Ugandan physician, politician and former military officer, in the in the UPDF. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change political party...
, the Chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change
Forum for Democratic Change
The Forum for Democratic Change , founded on December 16, 2004, is the main opposition party in Uganda. FDC was founded as an umbrella body mostly for disenchanted former members and followers President Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement...
(FDC) political party in Uganda. Together, they are the parents of one son called Anselm. Byanyima is a member of the FDC party, although she has significantly reduced her participation in partisan Ugandan politics since she became a Ugandan diplomat in 2006. She has five siblings: Edith, Anthony, Martha, Abraham and Olivia.