Maria Kiwanuka
Encyclopedia
Maria Kiwanuka is a Uganda
n economist
, businesswoman and politician
. She is the current Minister of Finance in the Ugandan Cabinet
. She was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. On account of being a cabinet minister she is an ex-officio member of the Ugandan Parliament. Prior to her current position, she was the Managing Director of Radio One and Radio Two, in Uganda, in which her family owns majority shareholding. She also served as a non-Executive board member on the Board of Directors
of the Aga Khan Foundation (East Africa)
, the Nabagereka Development Trust
, Nkumba University
, Uganda Development Bank
and Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
.
, a prestigious all-girls boarding high school, located about 26 kilometres (16.2 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, graduating in 1973. In 1974 she entered Makerere University
, Uganda's oldest institution of higher education. She graduated in 1977 with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce
(BCom). She later pursued further education at the London Business School
in the United Kingdom
, graduating with the degree of Master of Business Administration
(MBA).
, as an Economist
and Financial Analyst
for the East Asia
n and Southern Africa
n regions. Specifically she covered projects in Burma, Malawi
, Swaziland
and Uganda
. After she left the World Bank, she returned to her native Uganda and went into private business. Together with members of her family, she founded businesses in the areas of broadcasting
, publishing
, real estate
and economic consulting
. She has served as a financial adviser to the Nabagereka of Buganda
since the early 2000s.
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 economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, businesswoman and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She is the current Minister of Finance in the Ugandan 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. On account of being a cabinet minister she is an ex-officio member of the Ugandan Parliament. Prior to her current position, she was the Managing Director of Radio One and Radio Two, in Uganda, in which her family owns majority shareholding. She also served as a non-Executive board member on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Aga Khan Foundation (East Africa)
Aga Khan Foundation
The Aga Khan Foundation is a private, not-for-profit international development agency, which was founded in 1967 by . AKF seeks to provide long-term solutions to problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill health in the poorest parts of South and Central Asia, Eastern and Western Africa, and...
, the Nabagereka Development Trust
Nnabagereka of Buganda
The Nnabagereka is the title for the Queen of the Kingdom of Buganda, a tribal kingdom in modern day Uganda. The current Nnabagereka is Sylvia Nagginda.This title is a relatively recent one, created in the 20th century...
, Nkumba University
Nkumba University
Nkumba University is a private university in Entebbe, Uganda. It was established in 1994 as part of a group of schools and colleges which originally grew from a kindergarten set up in 1951...
, Uganda Development Bank
Uganda Development Bank
-Overview:The bank began its operations in 1972. Uganda Development Bank is the first development finance institution established by the Government of Uganda. The main objective of UDB is to promote and finance development in various sectors of the economy with particular emphasis on agriculture,...
and Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
Stanbic Bank (Uganda) Limited
Stanbic Bank Limited is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
.
Education
Maria Kiwanuka attended Gayaza High SchoolGayaza High School
Gayaza High School is an all-girls boarding school covering grades 8 -13 in Uganda. It is the oldest girls' school in the country.-Location:The school is located in the town of Gayaza, in Wakiso District, approximately northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The school grounds...
, a prestigious all-girls boarding high school, located about 26 kilometres (16.2 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, graduating in 1973. In 1974 she entered Makerere University
Makerere 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 institution of higher education. She graduated in 1977 with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
(BCom). She later pursued further education at the London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, graduating with the degree of Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
(MBA).
Work experience
Beginning around 1980, she worked for more than ten years with the World BankWorld 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...
, as an Economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and Financial Analyst
Financial analyst
A financial analyst, securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, or investment analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.-Job:...
for the East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n and Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
n regions. Specifically she covered projects in Burma, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
and 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...
. After she left the World Bank, she returned to her native Uganda and went into private business. Together with members of her family, she founded businesses in the areas of broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
, publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
, real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and economic consulting
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. She has served as a financial adviser to the Nabagereka of Buganda
Nnabagereka of Buganda
The Nnabagereka is the title for the Queen of the Kingdom of Buganda, a tribal kingdom in modern day Uganda. The current Nnabagereka is Sylvia Nagginda.This title is a relatively recent one, created in the 20th century...
since the early 2000s.
Personal details
Maria Kiwanuka is married to Mohan Kiwanuka, the Managing Director of Oscar Industries Limited. In 2007, four years prior to Maria Kiwanuka's being appointed Finance Minister, her husband was listed as one of the wealthiest people in Uganda.External links
See also
- Parliament of Uganda
- 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."...
- Kampala DistrictKampala DistrictKampala District is a district in Uganda that is coterminous with the country's capital city, Kampala. The district is named after the city. The main language spoken is Luganda. However many other languages are spoken, including: English, Swahili, Runyankole/Rukiga, Acholi and...
- Economy of UgandaEconomy of UgandaEndowed with significant natural resources, including ample fertile land, regular rainfall, and mineral deposits, it is thought that Uganda could feed the whole of Africa if it was commercially farmed. The economy of Uganda has great potential, and it appeared poised for rapid economic growth and...
- List of wealthiest people in Uganda