Joyce Mpanga Explained

Joyce Mpanga
Order:Member of the Lukiiko
Term Start:2009
Term End:2023
Order2:Member of the Parliament of Uganda
Term Start2:1996
Term End2:2001
Order3:Minister of State for Primary Education
Term Start3:1989
Term End3:1992
Order4:Minister of Women in Development
Term Start4:1988
Term End4:1989
Birth Name:Joyce Masembe
Birth Date:22 January 1934
Birth Place:Mityana, Protectorate of Uganda

Joyce Rovincer Mpanga (née Masembe; 22 January 1934 – 18 November 2023) was a Ugandan politician and member of the Lukiiko from 2009. Mpanga was the Minister of Women in Development from 1988 to 1989 and the Minister of State for Primary Education from 1989 to 1992. Outside of the cabinet of Uganda, Mpanga was a Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2001 for Mubende District.

Early life and education

Mpanga was born on 22 January 1934 in Mityana, Uganda and attended Gayaza High School. After graduating from Makerere College in 1958, she went to the University of London for a Bachelor of Arts and Indiana University Bloomington for her Master of Science in 1962.[1]

Career

Mpanga began her career as a teacher at Makerere College in 1958 and deputy headmistress of Gayaza High School in 1962.[1] During her time in Makerere, Mpanga was elected onto the Uganda Legislative Council in 1960.[2] Mpanga left for England in exile a year after the 1966 attack of Lubiri and returned to Uganda in 1972.[1] While in England, she was an elementary school teacher.

In 1988, Mpanga became Uganda's first Minister of Women in Development and was succeeded by Gertrude Byekwaso Lubega.[3] The following year, she was named Minister of State for Primary Education and held this position until 1991. Apart from serving in the cabinet of Uganda, Mpanga was also a Member of Parliament for the Mubende District from 1996 to 2001.[4] In between her political positions, she took part in the rewriting of the Constitution of Uganda in 1995.[5] In 2009, Mpanga became a member of the Lukiiko for Buwekula[6] and was a representative of women for Buganda's parliament since 2011.[7]

Personal life

Mpanga was married with two children.[8] Her grandson is a rapper and spoken word artist George the Poet.[9]

Mpanga died on 18 November 2023, at the age of 89.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Akyeampong. Emmanuel K.. Gates Jr.. Henry Louis . Mpanga, Joyce Rovincer. Dictionary of African Biography. 2012 . Oxford University Press. New York. 9780195382075. 270. 4 .
  2. Encyclopedia: Sheldon. Kathleen E.. Mpanga, Joyce R. (1934). Historical Dictionary of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2005. Scarecrow Press. Lanham, Maryland. 0810853310. 158.
  3. Book: Tripp. Aili Mari . Aili M. Tripp . Women and Politics in Uganda. 2000 . University of Madison Press . Madison. 9780299164843 . 87–88 .
  4. News: Magoba . Brian . Joyce Mpanga: A quiet champion for women's rights . 7 July 2018 . Daily Monitor . 13 October 2012.
  5. News: Jennings . Rosalind . Ugandan women's right activist to speak on gender issues . 7 July 2018 . Orlando Sentinel . 6 February 2008.
  6. News: FULL LIST OF BUGANDA LUKIIKO MEMBERS . 7 July 2018 . The Observer (Uganda) . 22 April 2009.
  7. Web site: Representatives of different categories (Professionals) . https://web.archive.org/web/20111014042837/http://www.buganda.or.ug/index.php/representatives-of-different-categories-professionals . dead . 14 October 2011 . Buganda Kingdom . 7 July 2018 .
  8. News: Lubega . Henry . Being married to Buganda's attorney general forced Mpanga to flee country . 25 August 2013 . 7 July 2018 . Daily Monitor . 8 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190308004404/https://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Marriage-led-to-Mpanga-s-exile/-/689844/1966402/-/item/0/-/iepitsz/-/index.html . dead .
  9. 31/12/2019 . Today. Today (BBC Radio 4) . George the Poet . . 31 December 2019 . 2:17:45. We're gonna meet my grandma, Joyce Mpanga, who was the first Women's Minister of Uganda..
  10. News: Former minister Joyce Mpanga dies at 89 . 19 November 2023 . Daily Express . 18 November 2023.