Norbert Mao

Last updated

Norbert Mao
Norbert Mao (cropped).jpg
Mao in 2017
Born (1967-03-12) 12 March 1967 (age 56)
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Alma mater Makerere University
(Bachelor of Laws)
Law Development Centre
(Diploma in Legal Practice)
Yale University
(International Fellowship)
Occupation(s)Lawyer and politician
Years active1996–present
Known forPolitics

Norbert Mao is a Ugandan political activist and lawyer. He has been president of the Democratic Party since 2010, [1] three time presidential candidate and he served as the Local Council 5 chairman for Gulu District. He is the current minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Ugandan government, [2] an office he assumed on 21 July 2022. He was appointed to this position by Yoweri Museveni, the president of the Republic of Uganda. [3] [2] This appointment drew immense criticism from the Democratic Party, an opposition party he is currently serving as president. [2] It was seen as a move by President Museveni to tame the Party and clip its wings to criticize his government.

Contents

Early life and education

Mao was born on 12 March 1967. His father, Dusman Okee Sr. (5 January 1942 – 3 January 2016), was Acholi [4] [5] and his mother was a Munyankole. Mao attended Mwiri Primary School in Jinja 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. 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 the Yale World Fellows Program, where he spent one year at the New Haven, Connecticut campus. [6]

Career

From 1992 until 1994, Mao worked as an associate attorney in the offices of Kabugo and Company Advocates, a Kampala-based law firm. Between 1994 and 1996, he worked as a legal counsel for the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society in their Gulu office. [7] In 1996, he was elected to the Parliament of Uganda, representing Gulu Municipality. While in parliament, he served on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. He resigned from Parliament in 2006 and was elected chairman of Gulu District. [7]

Mao is chairman of the East African chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and member of its secretariat. [6] 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 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. [8] [9] He belongs to the Democratic Party [2] and 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. He was elected as President of the Democratic Party on 20 February 2010 and ran for President of Uganda in the 2011 general election. [10] 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. Mao and Inter Party Coalition presidential candidates Kizza Besigye and Olara Otunnu, among others, protested the election results in spite of its early approval by international observers and the United States as largely free and fair. [11]

On 21 November 2020, Mao, along with fellow opposition presidential candidates Bobi Wine, Henry Tumukunde, Mugisha Muntu, and Patrick Amuriat Oboi, agreed to form an alliance. [12]

On 20 July 2022, Mao was appointed Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs by president Museveni in a move that many sparked off debate about his allegiance to the opposition. [2] [13] On 28 July 2022, Mao sworn in at State house entebbe with President Museveni as the main witness. [14] [2]

Personal life

Mao was married to Naomi Achieng Odongo, and they have two sons together. [10] They divorced on 27 May 2019, after 16 years of marriage. [15] He speaks Luo, Luganda, Runyankole, and English fluently. [16] Mao is a step-brother to Daniel Kidega, the former speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoweri Museveni</span> President of Uganda since 1986

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa is a Ugandan politician, military officer and revolutionary who has been the ninth President of Uganda since 1986. His government is considered autocratic. After Museveni lost the election of 1980, he started the Ugandan Bush War which led to the removal of Milton Obote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Kutesa</span> Ugandan lawyer and politician

Sam Kahamba Kutesa is a Ugandan politician, businessman and lawyer involved in several corruption cases. By the marriage of his daughter Charlotte Kutesa Muhoozi with Muhoozi he is part of the inner circle of president Museveni. Kutesa was the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of Uganda, a position he held from 13 January 2005 and maintained through three cabinet reshuffles until May 2021. He was also the elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mawogola County in Sembabule District. He was the President of the United Nations General Assembly during its 69th session in 2014–2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Ssemogerere (politician)</span> Ugandan politician (1932–2022)

Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere was a Ugandan politician who was the leader of the Democratic Party for 25 years, and one of the main players in Ugandan politics until his retirement in 2005.

DFCU Bank, registered as the Development Finance Company of Uganda Bank Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is licensed by the Bank of Uganda (BoU), Uganda's central bank and national banking regulator.

Gulu–Nimule Road is a road in the Northern Region of Uganda, connecting the city of Gulu in Gulu District and the town of Nimule in Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan, just north of the international border between the two countries. The road, known as Highway A104 in Uganda, continues into South Sudan as Highway A43.

Henry Tumukunde is a politician and retired senior military officer of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF). He ran as an independent for president in the 2021 Ugandan general election.

Beatrice Atim Anywar, also Betty Anywar,, is a Ugandan politician who serves as the Member of Parliament representing the Kitgum Municipality Constituency in the 10th Ugandan Parliament. Effective 14 December 2019, she concurrently serves as the State Minister for the Environment, in the Ugandan Cabinet. She replaced Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu, who was appointed Minister of Energy and Minerals, in the same cabinet.

The Entebbe–Kampala Expressway, also known as the "Kampala–Entebbe Expressway" or the "Entebbe–Kampala Highway", is a four-lane toll highway in the Central Region of Uganda. The highway links Entebbe International Airport, the country's largest civilian and military airport, to Kampala, the country's capital and largest metropolitan area. Originally, the highway was planned for commissioning in 2016, but because of the delayed works, commissioning was done on 15 June 2018 by Uganda's sitting president, Yoweri Museveni. Recently, the Uganda Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala launched the toll point at Kajjansi along Kampala–Entebbe Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Oulanyah</span> Ugandan lawyer and politician (1965–2022)

Jacob L'Okori Oulanyah was a Ugandan agricultural economist, lawyer, and politician, who served as the Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda from 2021 to 2022. He was elected to that position on 24 May 2021, after defeating his tenacious rival the then incumbent Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. He served as Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan parliament, from May 2011 until May 2021. Oulanyah was also the member of parliament representing the Omoro County constituency, Omoro District, Acholi sub-region, in the Uganda's Northern Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irene Muloni</span> Ugandan politician

Irene Nafuna Muloni is a Ugandan electrical engineer, businesswoman and politician and also a Senior Presidential Advisor to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. She was previously Cabinet Minister for Energy and Minerals in the Ugandan Cabinet until December 2019, serving from 27 May 2011. She retained her position in the new cabinet after the 2016 national elections. She served as the elected Member of Parliament for Bulambuli District Women's Representative, from 2011 until 2016 when she lost her seat to Independent candidate; Sarah Wekomba. She again regained her seat after the 2021 general elections.

Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, more commonly known as Kirunda Kivejinja, was a veteran Ugandan politician and senior presidential advisor to the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. He at the time of his demise was the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without portfolio in the Ugandan Cabinet.

Daniel Fred Kidega is a Ugandan politician and former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, in office from December 2014 until June 2017. As of August 2020, he served as the chairman of Atiak Sugar Factory, in Amuru District, in which the Uganda government owned 40 percent shareholding.

Beti Olive Namisango Kamya-Turomwe, also known as Betty Kamya and Beti Kamya, is a businesswoman and politician in Uganda, the third-largest economy in the East African Community. She is the Inspector General of Government in Uganda, since 16 July 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Ugandan general election</span>

General elections were held in Uganda on 18 February 2016 to elect the President and Parliament. Polling day was declared a national holiday.

Kiira Motors Corporation or KMC is a State Enterprise in Uganda established to champion the Development of the Domestic Automotive Value Chain for job and wealth creation and commercialize the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project. The Equity Partners are the Government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Office of the President holding 96% of the initial stock and Makerere University holding 4%.

Betty Amongi Akena,, but commonly known as Betty Amongi, is a Ugandan politician. She is the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development in the Cabinet of Uganda, as of 9 June 2021. Previously, she served as the Cabinet Minister of Kampala Capital City and before that, from 6 June 2016 until 14 December 2019, she served as the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Uganda's cabinet. She is also the incumbent member of parliament representing the Oyam South Constituency in the 11th Parliament.

Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo is a Ugandan lawyer and judge. He has been the Chief Justice of Uganda since 20 August 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance for National Transformation</span> Ugandan political party

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), founded on 19 March 2019, is a political party in Uganda.

Events in the year 2021 in Uganda.

References

  1. Charles Ariko, and Jude Kafuma (22 February 2010). "Uganda: Political Parties React to Mao DP Election". New Vision via AllAfrica.com . Kampala.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "▶️ IN THE WEEK PAST: Mao sworn in as Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister". New Vision. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  3. David Vosh Ajuna (21 July 2021). "Museveni appoints Mao justice minister". Daily Monitor . Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  4. Jackson Kitara, and David Lumu (3 January 2016). "Mao's father dies aged 74". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  5. Okuda, Ivan (3 January 2016). "Norbert Mao's father is dead". Daily Monitor . Kampala. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 Mao, Norbert (2000). "Norbert Mao's Curriculum Vittae" (PDF). Parlnet.org. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 Who Is Who in Africa (February 2022). "Who Is Who in Africa: Norbert Mao". Whoiswhoinafrica.com. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  8. Yale University (5 January 2016). "Meet the World Fellows: Yale University". New Haven, Connecticut, United States: Yale University . Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  9. Karen Allen (15 March 2007). "Uganda's war victims live on hope". London: BBC . Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 Sheila Naturinda, and Emmanuel Mulondo (25 October 2010). "2011 UGANDA ELECTIONS: I'm the 'Obama' – Mao". Daily Monitor . Kampala. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  11. "Uganda election: Yoweri Museveni wins fresh term". London: BBC. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  12. "Presidential candidates join forces to deal with police brutality". 21 November 2020.
  13. KFM News
  14. "Norbert Mao Sworn in As Minister For Justice at Entebbe State House | KAB News". 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  15. Anthony Wesaka (1 June 2019). "Mao's marriage with Naomi dissolved by court". Daily Monitor . Kampala.
  16. Michael Ssali (17 January 2011). "I want a new beginning – Mao on the future". Daily Monitor . Kampala. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  17. Donald Kiirya (4 January 2016). "Hundreds attend Mao father's funeral". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
Preceded by President of the Democratic Party
2010 – Present
Succeeded by