Betty Oyella Bigombe
Encyclopedia
Betty Oyella Bigombe, also known as Betty Atuku Bigombe (born 1954), is the current State Minister for Water Resouces
in the Uganda Cabinet
. She was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. She is also the elected Member of Parliament (MP), representing Amuru District Women's Constituency
. She was elected to that position in March 2011.
, Uganda's oldest university, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (BA.Soc.Sc). Later she attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
in the United States of America. The graduated with the degree of Master of Public Administration
(MPA
). Her studies at Harvard were sponsored by a Fellowship from the Harvard Institute for International Development
.
of the Uganda Mining Corporation, a government parastatal company. From 1986 until 1996, she served in the Ugandan Parliament as an MP.
In 1988, she was appointed State Minister for Northern Uganda
. Her appointment required her to take up residence in Gulu
, the largest city in Uganda's Northern Region
. She was tasked with convincing the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) guerilla rebels to lay down their arms, following the failure of military efforts to defeat the rebels.
Bigombe initiated contact with rebel leader Joseph Kony
in June 1993. This began what would be known as "The Bigombe talks". In 1993 she was named Uganda's Woman of the Year for her efforts to end the violence. Despite meeting with Kony, the talks collapsed in February 1994. Soon afterward the insurgency intensified and no significant efforts towards peace would be made for the next decade.
In 1997, following her graduation from Harvard, she took up employment with the World Bank
in Washington, DC, as Senior Social Scientist, with the Post-conflict Unit. Later, she served as a Consultant to the Bank's Social Protection and Human Development Unit. In 1999 and 2000, Bigombe provided technical support to the Carter Center
in a successful mediation effort between the governments of Uganda
and Sudan
.
Following the February 2004 Barlonyo massacre
, Bigombe took a leave of absence from the World Bank and flew to Uganda to attempt to restart the peace process. From March 2004 to 2005, Bigombe was the chief mediator in a new peace initiative with the Lord's Resistance Army
, personally financing much of the logistics of bringing Ugandan government ministers and rebel leaders together. The last meeting on April 20, 2005 fell through. However, the failure of the Bigombe mediation is seen as laying the groundwork for the 2006–2007 Juba talks, which were mediated by the government of South Sudan
. Those talks collapsed at te last minute when Joseph Kony
refused to sign the peace agreement.
In 2006 she returned to the United States and served as a Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, in Washington DC. Later, she was appointed Distinguished African Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
, also in Washington, DC.
She was appointed the Chairperson of the National Information and Technology Authority in Uganda (NITAU) in 2009. In May 2011, she was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni
as State Minister for Water Resources, a position she still serves in today.
in 1996 and left government service.
In 2011, fifteen (15) years later, she bounced back by winning the parliamentary seat of Amuru District Women's Constituency, on the National Resistance Movement
party ticket. She won and is now the incumbent
for that seat.
has accused the Arcadia Foundation of being an anti-ALBA
front organisation
of the CIA which was involved in the 2009 coup d'état
that removed him from office.
. She is the mother of two children; Pauline and Emmanuela. As well as English
and Acholi
, she speaks Swahili
and Japanese
.
Water resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water....
in the Uganda Cabinet
Cabinet of Uganda
According to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
. She was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. She is also the elected Member of Parliament (MP), representing Amuru District Women's Constituency
Amuru District
Amuru District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Amuru, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
. She was elected to that position in March 2011.
Background
She was born in what was then known as Acholi Diistrict in 1954. She is one of eleven (11) children by her father, who was a nurse. She is an ethnic Acholi.Education
Betty Bigombe attended Makerere UniversityMakerere 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...
, Uganda's oldest university, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (BA.Soc.Sc). Later she attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
in the United States of America. The graduated with the degree of Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
(MPA
MPA
-Academic degrees:* Master of Professional Accountancy* Master of Public Administration* Master of Public Affairs* Master of Physician's Assistant-Chemicals:* Medroxyprogesterone acetate, also known by the brand name Depo-Provera* Morpholide of pelargonic acid...
). Her studies at Harvard were sponsored by a Fellowship from the Harvard Institute for International Development
Harvard Institute for International Development
The Harvard Institute for International Development was a think-tank dedicated to helping nations join the global economy, operating between 1974 and 2000...
.
Work history
From 1981 until 1984, she worked as the Company SecretaryCompany secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
of the Uganda Mining Corporation, a government parastatal company. From 1986 until 1996, she served in the Ugandan Parliament as an MP.
In 1988, she was appointed State Minister for Northern Uganda
Northern Region, Uganda
Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Her appointment required her to take up residence in 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...
, the largest city in Uganda's Northern Region
Northern Region, Uganda
Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. She was tasked with convincing 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) guerilla rebels to lay down their arms, following the failure of military efforts to defeat the rebels.
Bigombe initiated contact with rebel leader Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony is an African terrorist who is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army , a guerrilla group that is engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments in Uganda...
in June 1993. This began what would be known as "The Bigombe talks". In 1993 she was named Uganda's Woman of the Year for her efforts to end the violence. Despite meeting with Kony, the talks collapsed in February 1994. Soon afterward the insurgency intensified and no significant efforts towards peace would be made for the next decade.
In 1997, following her graduation from Harvard, she took up employment with the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
in Washington, DC, as Senior Social Scientist, with the Post-conflict Unit. Later, she served as a Consultant to the Bank's Social Protection and Human Development Unit. In 1999 and 2000, Bigombe provided technical support to the Carter Center
Carter Center
The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter. In partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center works to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering...
in a successful mediation effort between the governments of 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...
and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
Following the February 2004 Barlonyo massacre
Barlonyo
Barlonyo is a village housing an Internally Displaced Person camp in northern Uganda near Lira town, where a number of internally displaced people from parts of northern Uganda lived, as a result of a 20-year LRA insurgency. It is located in Orit Parish, at the North -eastern end of Ogur...
, Bigombe took a leave of absence from the World Bank and flew to Uganda to attempt to restart the peace process. From March 2004 to 2005, Bigombe was the chief mediator in a new peace initiative with 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...
, personally financing much of the logistics of bringing Ugandan government ministers and rebel leaders together. The last meeting on April 20, 2005 fell through. However, the failure of the Bigombe mediation is seen as laying the groundwork for the 2006–2007 Juba talks, which were mediated by the government of South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
. Those talks collapsed at te last minute when Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony is an African terrorist who is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army , a guerrilla group that is engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments in Uganda...
refused to sign the peace agreement.
In 2006 she returned to the United States and served as a Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, in Washington DC. Later, she was appointed Distinguished African Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
, also in Washington, DC.
She was appointed the Chairperson of the National Information and Technology Authority in Uganda (NITAU) in 2009. In May 2011, she was appointed by President 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...
as State Minister for Water Resources, a position she still serves in today.
Political career
Following a ten year stint in the Uganda Parliament from 1986 until 1996, she failed to win the parliamentary seat for Gulu MunicipalityGulu
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...
in 1996 and left government service.
In 2011, fifteen (15) years later, she bounced back by winning the parliamentary seat of Amuru District Women's Constituency, on the National Resistance Movement
National Resistance Movement
The National Resistance Movement , commonly referred to as the Movement, is a political organization in Uganda.Until a referendum in 2005, Uganda held elections on a non-party basis. The NRM dominates parliament, however, and is expected to continue to do so. The presidential elections of 12 March...
party ticket. She won and is now the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
for that seat.
Other achievements
Bigombe is founder and president of the Arcadia Foundation, a non-profit organization aiming to curb corruption in governments worldwide. Former Honduran President Manuel ZelayaManuel Zelaya
José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
has accused the Arcadia Foundation of being an anti-ALBA
Alba
Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is cognate to Alba in Irish and Nalbin in Manx, the two other Goidelic Insular Celtic languages, as well as similar words in the Brythonic Insular Celtic languages of Cornish and Welsh also meaning Scotland.- Etymology :The term first appears in...
front organisation
Non-official cover
Non-official cover is a term used in espionage, particularly by national intelligence services, for agents or operatives who assume covert roles in organizations without ties to the government for which they work. Such agents or operatives are typically abbreviated in espionage lingo as a NOC...
of the CIA which was involved in the 2009 coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that removed him from office.
Personal details
Betty Bigombe was at one time married to then Uganda's ambassador to JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She is the mother of two children; Pauline and Emmanuela. As well as 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...
and Acholi
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...
, she speaks Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
and Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
.
External links
- Feature on Betty Bigombe by the International Museum of WomenInternational Museum of WomenThe International Museum of Women, , headquartered in San Francisco, California, is an online museum that covers women's issues world-wide.- Creation and expansion :I.M.O.W. was founded as the Women's Heritage Museum in 1985...
. - Arcadia Foundation
See also
- Lord's Resistance ArmyLord's Resistance ArmyThe 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...
- Amuru DistrictAmuru DistrictAmuru District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Amuru, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- Cabinet of UgandaCabinet of UgandaAccording to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
- Parliament of Uganda