It is perhaps the region with the highest number of princes and princesses in Uganda.
The Busoga region boasts of 11 chiefdoms, with five of them belonging to the ruling class, the Baisengobi, providing direct leadership through a would-be rotational power structure with the Isebantu Kyabazinga at the helm.
The Baisengobi is comprised of five clans among them Ngobi, Gabula, Tabingwa, Zibondo and Nkono, whose clanmates have over the years graced the political landscape of Uganda. The Basoga are industrious, have academic clout, but can also alternative thought processes for other Ugandans.
Indeed, among the other tribes in Uganda, the Basoga are generally regarded as ‘obstinate’, usually chidingly reflected in their firm use of the word ‘Bbe’, a general expression of refusal or defiance.
Distinctly, the Basoga women are also famed for their ‘matriarchal permissiveness’, usually expressed through the saying: ‘Omumwami kyakoba nzena kyenkoba’, loosely translated as ‘what the boss/man says is what I follow’. It is perhaps the combination of the above-mentioned character traits that President Yoweri Museveni, a man known for his predilection for resoluteness and loyalty, was endeared to the Basoga women, elevating them to some of the highest positions in the country during his 30 year rule.
Below are some of the women who have graced the Museveni dining table during his 30 year tenure as the First Citizen.
Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe
The Museveni Busoga female group is led by Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, the first-ever female to hold the post of Vice President in Uganda and the whole of Africa, serving from 1994 to 2003.
Born in 1955, the 61-year old Dr Kazibwe, who is currently gunning for the Chairmanship of the African Union (AU) through a project funded by the government to the tune of Shillings 4.5 billion, served as Uganda VP for 9 years, during which time she elicited controversy and candidness in governance, in almost equal measure.
Prior to serving as VP, Dr Kazibwe, who honed her political astuteness as a youthful Democratic Party (DP) supporter, was the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). She also served as the Deputy Minister of Youth and Culture, a time she also perfected her dancing skills, but also one that allegedly marked the beginning of the crumbling of her marriage to Engineer Charles Kazibwe (RIP).
Dr Wandira Kazibwe holds a Shillings two billion Doctorate from the Harvard School of Public Health in the US, and was also the founding chairperson of the Board of the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) of Uganda. In effect Dr Kazibwe is the second biggest beneficiary of Mr Museveni’s ‘Busoga women goodies bag’, coming in immediately after the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.
Rebecca Kadaga Alitwala
Like Dr Wandira Kazibwe, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has her political roots in the Democratic Party. A lawyer of grandstanding among her colleagues, the 60-year old Ms Kadaga’s political expedition has seen her represent Kamuli district, both as Constituent Assembly Delegate (CAD) and Member of Parliament (MP) for 20 years. During that time she has also held various ministerial positions including Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, State Minister for Regional Cooperation; State Minister for Communication and Aviation.
Currently Ms Kadaga is serving her second term as Speaker, having earlier served as Deputy Speaker for ten years, in effect making her the biggest beneficiary of Mr Museveni’s ‘Busoga women goodies bag’.
Justine Kasule Lumumba
Her love for flowers is reflected in the 1000 species that adorn her exquisite house. But unknown to many Justine Lumumba Kasule, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bugiri, is a teacher-turned-politician who has scaled the heights of power, rising to the fourth most important position in the ruling party.
Born in 1972, the 44-year old Ms Lumumba, who has also served as the NRM Chief Whip, joined politics in 2001.
Faith Mwondha
Currently a High Court Judge, Lady Justice Faith Mwondha once served as the Inspector General of Government (IGG) who, at a time when faced with occupational challenges, described herself as ‘God’s Warrior’.
Also, at the time when Lady Justice Mwondha was serving as IGG, she reportedly opted to continue getting a judge’s salary (which was bigger), a development that elicited scorn against her and almost caused a ‘judicial and legal furore’. However, in the ensuing legal battle High Court Judge Yasin Nyanzi saved Ms Mwondha from the attendant embarrassment when he ruled in her favour and awarded her damages of Shs100 million.
Also, at the height of her occupational woes, with the ‘warrior and God’ in her evoked, Ms Mwondha controversially stepped down from the IGG office after the Constitutional Court ruled that she should appear for parliamentary vetting before taking up Mr Museveni’s re-appointment to office to serve a second term.
Irene Mulyagonga Kakooza
Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza replaced her colleague Ms Mwondha as substantive holder of the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) office. A member of the family of Jinja construction magnate Fred Mulyagonja Senior (RIP), the soft-spoken, Lady Justice Mulyagonja prefers to carry out her work discreetly.
Victoria Balyejusa Sekitoleko
Born in 1953, the 63-year old Victoria Balyejusa Sekitoleko is probably the first and longest female to serve in any of Mr Museveni’s cabinets over the years, holding the docket of the agriculture ministry for 9 years, from 1986 to 1995. She was also a member of the National Resistance Council (NRC), and later on secondment by the Museveni government, joined the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), working in several countries across the world.
Recently, during the 2016 elections Ms Sekitoleko was involved with an advocacy group, the Women Situation Room.
Beatrice Zirabamuzaale
Princess Beatrice Zirabamuzaale rose to national prominence as the Woman MP for Iganga, and later as Minister in charge of Luwero Triangle. But before that Ms Zirabamuzaale was more known in Busoga as the mother of Afrigo Band’s songstress Rachael Magoola of the ‘Obangaina’ fame. Rachael later tried her hand in politics but was not successful.
Margaret Kisira Mbeiza Manana
Margaret Mbeiza ‘rose’ to national recognition, all for the wrong reasons. The lady MP from Kaliro was twice rejected by the Parliament’s Vetting Committee on ‘moral grounds’ after President Museveni had appointed her the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring. In the subsequent elections she lost but was named Mayuge Resident District Commissioner (RDC). But this time round Ms Mbeiza bounced back to Parliament, although her name didn’t appear on the list of Ministers.
Esther Mbulakubuza Mbayo
Esther Mbulakubuza Mbayo can be regarded a first timer in every sense of the word and, on the national scene little was known of her before June 6, 2016 when Mr Museveni issued a list with her name as a minister in the 80-member cabinet. Indeed, not only was she named minister, but the Luuka county MP walked away with a ministerial portfolio that has eluded so many old timers. The Presidency.
A Bachelor of Commerce graduate from Makerere University, Ms Mbayo will henceforth be charged with supervising the functionality of the highest office in the land, making sure that her colleagues and RDCs are in sync with what the ‘Big man’s’ vision of transforming Uganda into a middle income country by 2021.