Norbert Mao is a Ugandan political activist and lawyer. He has been president of theDemocratic Party since 2010,[1] three time presidential candidate and served as theLocal Council 5 chairman forGulu 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 byYoweri Museveni, the president of the Republic of Uganda.[3][2] The 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.
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Norbert Mao | |
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.jpg) Mao in 2017 | |
| Born | (1967-03-12)12 March 1967 (age 58) Uganda |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Citizenship | Uganda |
| Alma mater | Makerere University (Bachelor of Laws) Law Development Centre (Diploma in Legal Practice) Yale University (International Fellowship) |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer and politician |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Politics |
| Spouse(s) | Naomi Achieng (2003-2019) Beatrice Kayanja (2024-present) |
Early life and education
editMao was born on 12 March 1967. His father, Dusman Okee Sr. (5 January 1942 – 3 January 2016), wasAcholi[4][5] and his mother was aMunyankole. Mao attended Mwiri Primary School inJinja and briefly went to Wairaka College inJinja District before attendingNamilyango College, a prestigious all-boys boarding high school inMukono District from 1982 until 1988. He then attendedMakerere University from 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 theDiploma in Legal Practice from theLaw Development Center in 1992. In 2003, Mao was admitted toYale University, under theYale World Fellows Program, where he spent one year at theNew Haven, Connecticut campus.[6]
Career
edit
From 1992 until 1994, Mao worked as an associate attorney in the offices of Kabugo and Company Advocates, aKampala-based law firm. Between 1994 and 1996, he worked as a legal counsel for the Legal Aid Project of theUganda Law Society in theirGulu office.[7] In 1996, he was elected to theParliament 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 theEast 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 theLord's Resistance Army rebels and the Ugandan government by lobbying for the passage of a generalamnesty law aimed at bringing a peaceful resolution to armed conflict in northern Uganda.[8][9] He belongs to theDemocratic 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 candidatesKizza Besigye andOlara 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 candidatesBobi 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 sparked off a debate about his allegiance to the opposition.[2][13] On 28 July 2022, Mao was sworn in at State House Entebbe with President Museveni as the main witness.[14][2]
Personal life
editMao 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] On 1 June 2024 Mao married Beatrice Nambi in Gulu City.[16] He speaksLuo,Luganda,Runyankole, andEnglish fluently.[17] Mao is a step-brother toDaniel Kidega, the former speaker of theEast African Legislative Assembly.[18]
References
edit- ^Charles Ariko, and Jude Kafuma (22 February 2010)."Uganda: Political Parties React to Mao DP Election".New Vision viaAllAfrica.com. Kampala.
- ^abcdef"▶️ IN THE WEEK PAST: Mao sworn in as Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister".New Vision. Retrieved30 January 2023.
- ^David Vosh Ajuna (21 July 2021)."Museveni appoints Mao justice minister".Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved22 July 2021.
- ^Jackson Kitara, and David Lumu (3 January 2016)."Mao's father dies aged 74".New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved3 January 2016.
- ^Okuda, Ivan (3 January 2016)."Norbert Mao's father is dead".Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved3 January 2016.
- ^abMao, Norbert (2000)."Norbert Mao's Curriculum Vittae"(PDF). Parlnet.org. Retrieved3 January 2016.
- ^abWho Is Who in Africa (February 2022)."Who Is Who in Africa: Norbert Mao".Whoiswhoinafrica.com. Retrieved16 February 2022.
- ^Yale University (5 January 2016)."Meet the World Fellows: Yale University". New Haven, Connecticut, United States:Yale University. Retrieved5 January 2016.
- ^Karen Allen (15 March 2007)."Uganda's war victims live on hope". London:BBC. Retrieved5 January 2016.
- ^abSheila Naturinda, and Emmanuel Mulondo (25 October 2010)."2011 UGANDA ELECTIONS: I'm the 'Obama' – Mao".Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved5 January 2016.
- ^"Uganda election: Yoweri Museveni wins fresh term". London:BBC. 20 February 2011. Retrieved5 January 2016.
- ^"Presidential candidates join forces to deal with police brutality". 21 November 2020.
- ^KFM News
- ^"Norbert Mao Sworn in As Minister For Justice at Entebbe State House | KAB News". 27 July 2022. Retrieved27 July 2022.
- ^Anthony Wesaka (1 June 2019)."Mao's marriage with Naomi dissolved by court".Daily Monitor. Kampala.
- ^"Justice minister Mao weds Beatrice in Gulu".New Vision. Retrieved28 June 2024.
- ^Michael Ssali (17 January 2011)."I want a new beginning – Mao on the future".Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved5 January 2016.
- ^Donald Kiirya (4 January 2016)."Hundreds attend Mao father's funeral".New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved5 January 2016.
External links
edit| Preceded by | President of the Democratic Party 2010 – Present | Succeeded by |