Who is Akumu Catherine Mavenjina? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with the late Mr. Jacques Vonumero Mavenjina, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, National Resistance Movement party, the early life and education of the former Woman Member of Parliament for Nebbi District in Uganda.
Akumu Catherine Mavenjina is a lawyer and a veteran politician who hails from Nebbi District.
She previously held the position of State Minister for Public Service and served as the Woman Member of Parliament for Nebbi District in the 8th Parliament.
Mavenjina is a devoted and loyal member of the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
Early life and Education
Akumu Catherine Mavenjina was born into a modest peasant family in Nebbi District found in the Northern region of Uganda more precisely the West Nile region.
She was married to the late Mr. Jacques Vonumero Mavenjina and together they had many children.
Her sister, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe is the director of St. Monica’s Girls Tailoring Center in Gulu, Uganda.
Catherine graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration in 2011 from Kampala International University.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Before entering elective politics in 1994, Akumu Catherine Mavenjina worked as a magistrate for the Kampala City Council Court and also the Juvenile Court.
In 1995, she stood for office and was elected as a delegate to the Constituent Assembly to make the New Constitution of Uganda.
She stood for parliamentary office in 1996 and was chosen without opposition to serve as the Women’s representative of Nebbi District in parliament. In July 1996, she was named Minister of State for Public Service.
Later, she worked for Moyo District as a Resident District Commissioner. She was a key player in mobilizing votes for the NRM Presidential elections in Nebbi District.
Mavenjina was chosen as the Zombo Woman Member of Parliament in 2006, but Grace Thorach defeated her in the re-election contest in 2010.
In 2020, the Parliament created five seats for elderly legislators to be elected at regional level.
At the Arua Comprehensive School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mavenjina, the NRM flag bearer from the Zombo district, received 154 of the 165 votes cast. On May 17, 2021, she was sworn in as a member of parliament for the senior Northern region.
Mavenjina played the role of Queen Elizabeth II before the Parliament in the mock rehearsals prior to Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Uganda in 2007 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Achievements and awards
Akumu Catherine is renowned as a significant figure in Uganda’s history of women’s emancipation. She served as the Chairperson of the Uganda Women’s Parliamentary Association.
Controversies
Johnson Oryem, who ran on an independent ticket for the MP elderly seat received three votes, and Pedro Alele Ekol, the FDC party candidate, received two votes.
Oryem, however, asserted that corruption played a significant role in the polls. In addition, he insisted that the minimum number of voters per district for senior citizens be raised from five to at least ten.
According to Pedro Alele Ekol, the FDC candidate, voters were made to only consider NRM candidates.
Regarding family planning, Catherine Akumu Mavenjina stated her concern. In 2007, the legislator encouraged the couple to have many children and not only stop with one child while speaking at a wedding reception in Kampala.
She cited herself as an example, mentioning how she had several kids and raised them properly. She questioned the purpose of all the family planning talks.
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