PROFILE: Who is Speaker Rebecca Kadaga?

As the International Women’s Day draws nearer, we are bringing you women of steel who have stood above others to influence the political, social and economical dynamics of Uganda.

Today we bring you Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga,the Speaker of Parliament also Kamuli Woman Member of Parliament.

Kadaga was born on May 24, 1956 to George Wilson Madali and Eve Kagoya Kadaga.

She attended Namasagali College for her high school education.

She studied law at Makerere University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB), in 1978. She went on to obtain a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center in Kampala in 1979.

In 2000, Kadaga obtained a Diploma in Women’s Law from the University of Zimbabwe and in 2003, she obtained the degree of Master of Arts (MA), specialising in Women’s Law, also from the University of Zimbabwe. Between 1984 and 1988, she was in private law practice.

She served as the Chairperson of the University Council for Mbarara University of Science and Technology, between 1993 and 1996.

In 1989, the NRM leaning politician was elected as Woman MP for Kamuli District.

During 1996, she served as Secretary General of the East African Women Parliamentarians Association.

From 1996 to 1998, Kadaga was the Ugandan Minister of State for Regional Cooperation (Africa and the Middle East). She then served as Minister of State for Communication and Aviation from 1998 to 1999 and as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs from 1999 to 2000.

She was elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament in 2001, a position that she held until 19 May 2011, when she was elected Speaker of Parliament thus becoming the first woman to be elected in that position in the history of Uganda.

Following the February 2016 general election, Kadaga was unanimously re-elected as Speaker of Parliament on 19 May 2016.

Besides being the Speaker, Kadaga sits on various parliamentary committees that include, Appointments Committee, The Parliamentary Commission and the Business Committee.