Usko Nghaamwa Explained

Usko Nghaamwa
Office:Governor of Ohangwena Region
Term Start:2005
Term End:2020
President:Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hage Geingob
Spouse:Lucia Nghaamwa
Party:SWAPO
Committees:SWAPO Party Central Committee

Usko Nghihepavali Nghaamwa (born 18th January 1944) is a Namibian businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He's originally from Oipapakane village in the Ohangwena Region. Nghaamwa is a member of SWAPO.[1]

Political career

Nghaamwa was councillor of Ohangwena Constituency. In the 2004 regional election he received 6,194 of the 6,243 votes cast.[2] In 2005 he was appointed governor of the Ohangwena Region. He served until 2020.[3] In December 2022, Nghaamwa was elected to the SWAPO Party Central Committee.

Philanthropy

Nghaamwa is well known in the North of Namibia where he has donated to communities by giving school infrastructure, food to the needy, scholarships, plus flood and drought aid.[4] In 2021, he donated one N$ 100,000 for the new Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) campus to be constructed in Eenhana, his home region. He also hosts an Usko Nghaamwa Marathon, with latest events having been hosted in collaboration with athlete Simon Shokonawa on 18 January 2022, his birthday.

Nghaamwa regularly donates to different schools in Ohangwena region, among them Omungwelume Secondary School which in 2023 has been renamed UN Nghaamwa Secondary School in his honour.[5]

Private life

Nghaamwa is married to fellow SWAPO politician Lucia Nghaamwa, a former member of parliament. They have a daughter and own farms in the Kavango East and Ohangwena regions.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=67509&no_cache=1 Usko Nghaamwa criticises RDP, DTA, RP leaders
  2. News: Electoral Act, 1992: Notification of Result of General Election for Regional Councils . Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia . 3366 . 8 . . 3 January 2005 . pdf.
  3. http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/article.php?title=President%20Pohamba%20appoints%20governors&id=5317 President Pohamba appoints governors
  4. News: Ikela . Selma . Nghaamwa bows out with head held high . 15 April 2020 . . en-za.
  5. News: de Klerk . Eveline . Nghaamwa blesses northern schools . 2 May 2023 . . en-za.
  6. News: The baron of the communal lands . 22 May 2015 . . en-za.