Who is Amelia Anne Kyambadde? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, and relationship with the late Serwano Kityaba Kulubya and Mary Kafureka, Marjorie Barya, Wilson Kyambadde, Ishta Kyambadde and Ivan Serwano Kyambadde, Dr Hilderman (Hillary Kiyaga), Twezimbe Development Foundation, the early life and education of the current Senior Presidential Advisor on Industry in Uganda.
Amelia Anne Kyambadde is a female Ugandan politician, entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Women Activist, Real Estate Developer, Eco-tourism enthusiast and Trade Consultant.
In the ninth and tenth parliaments, she served as both the Member of Parliament for Mawokota North County and the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives.
Currently, Amelia Kyambadde is serving as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Industry in the President’s office.
Early Life
Amelia Anne Kulubya (Kyambadde) was born on 30 June 1955 in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom and relocated to the then Uganda Protectorate, in 1960 with her father.
She was born to the late Serwano Kityaba Kulubya who was studying in England as a lawyer and Mary Kafureka who was studying as a doctor.
Both her parents are from Mityana and they separated after Amelia was born.
On arriving in Uganda, Amelia’s father was posted as a magistrate in Fort Portal and she had to live with her grandmother, Mrs Serwano Kulubya.
When her father became the Chief registrar of the High Court, they moved to Nakasero and he married Marjorie Barya, a Mutooro making her Amelia’s stepmother.
She has a younger sister called Fiona and is a niece of the prominent John Ssenseko Kulubya.
Education Background
Amelia Anne Kyambadde attended Gayaza Junior School in Wakiso District for her primary education and later went to Sacred Heart in Gulu for her O’level education. She then went to Aga Khan for her A-level studies.
She enrolled for Secretarial Training at New Era Secretarial College in Nairobi, Kenya afterwards.
Amelia currently holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA), from Makerere University, Uganda and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), from American InterContinental University, United Kingdom.
Education background summary
| Institution | Status /Award |
| Gayaza Junior School | PLE |
| Sacred Heart in Gulu | UCE |
| Aga Khan | UACE |
| New Era Secretarial College | Secretarial Training |
| Makerere University | Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration |
| American InterContinental University | Master’s Degree in Business Administration |
Other academic accomplishments
Amelia Anne Kyambadde enrolled for an Office Management Course and studied the Swedish Language in Arbetsfoermedlingen, Sweden.
She also enrolled for a Higher Diploma in Administration at New College Durham, Durham University, United Kingdom.
Marriage / Relationship
After completing her secondary education, Amelia Kyambadde did not want to go to university. By then she was in a relationship with Wilson Kyambadde whom she had met at a party and was intending to marry her.
Her father was against the idea and decided to take her to Nairobi for a Secretarial Training course at New Era Secretarial College.
However, by then, she was pregnant with her first daughter at 19 years old. She came back to Uganda and got married in 1976. She had a wedding in Namirembe and held the reception in Makerere.
She gave birth two weeks after their marriage ceremony and went back to school to complete her secretarial course.
Amelia is currently a mother of seven children with more than five grandchildren. Some of their children are Ishta Kyambadde, Ivan Sserwano Kyambadde and Micheal Kyambadde who got married to Jemima Bagonza in July 2022.
Career and Professional Work Experience
In 1978, Amelia Kyambadde worked as a secretary for Kulubya & Company Advocates. In 1979, she joined the Ugandan Civil Service as Secretary to the Minister of Defence.
From 1981 to 1986, she worked in Sweden as a political refugee. From 1986 to 1991, she was H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda’s Senior Personal Secretary.
From 1991 to 1999, she then acted as H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda’s Principal Personal Secretary.
From 2000 to 2004, she was Senior Private Secretary (Administration) at the State House of Uganda.
From 2005 to 2010, Amelia became the Principal Private Secretary (Chef de Cabinet) of President Museveni.
She voluntarily left her position as the President’s Parliamentary Private Secretary in 2010 to run for the Mpigi District’s “Mawokota County North” parliamentary seat. She won her parliamentary race in the 2011 national elections in Uganda.
From March 2011 to May 2021, she was the Mawokota County North Member of Parliament in the Mpigi District.
She was also appointed on 27 May 2011 as the Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives Minister in the cabinet replacing Kahinda Otafiire who was instead named Minister of Justice.
From 2010 to 2015, she also worked as the National Resistance Movement Party Chairperson and NRM’s National Treasurer.
From 2013 to 2014, she was the Chairperson of the Council of Trade Ministers (COMESA). In 2014, she was the World Trade Organization Chairperson of the Least-developed Countries.
From 2014 to 2015, Amelia chaired the East African Community’s Sectoral Council of Trade Ministers. From 2018 to June 2019, she worked as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’s (AfCFTA) Chief Negotiator and chair.
From March 2020 to June 2021, she was Chairperson of the National Taskforce on COVID-19’s Trade and Transportation Subcommittee.
Kyambadde was defeated by Dr Hilderman (Hillary Kiyaga) of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party in the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2021.
She was afterwards appointed as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Industry, an office she has been serving in since July 2021.
Work experience background summary
| Years | Institution | Position |
| 1978 | Kulubya & Company Advocates | Secretary |
| 1979 | Ugandan Civil Service | Secretary to the Minister of Defence |
| 1981 to 1986 | Sweden | Political refugee |
| 1986 – 1991 | H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda Office | Senior Personal Secretary |
| 1991 – 1999 | H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda office | Principal Personal Secretary |
| 2000 – 2004 | State House Uganda | Senior Private Secretary (Administration) |
| 2005 – 2010 | H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda Office | Principal Private Secretary (Chef de staff) |
| 2010 – 2015 | National Resistance Movement Party (NRM) | Chairperson |
| 2010 – 2015 | National Resistance Movement | National Treasurer |
| 2013 – 2014 | Council of Ministers of Trade (COMESA) | Chairperson |
| 2014 – 2015 | Sectoral Council of Ministers of Trade – East Africa Community | Chairperson |
| 2014 | Least Developed Countries, World Trade Organization | Chairperson |
| 2018 – June 2019 | African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) | Chief Negotiator |
| June 2018 – June 2019 | Sub-Committee for Trade and Transport, National Taskforce on COVID-19. | Chairperson |
| March 2020 – June 2021 | Sub-Committee for Trade and Transport,National Taskforce on COVID-19. | Chairperson, |
| July 2021 – Present | Government | Senior Presidential Advisor/ Industry |
Member of Parliament Summary
| Term | Years | Constituency | Other roles |
| 1st | 2011 – 2016 | Mawokota County North | Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives |
| 2nd | 2016 – 2021 | Mawokota County North | Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives |
Other Career accomplishments
Amelia Anne Kyambaddde is the Chief Executive Officer of Ensulo Haven. Her strong desire to protect the environment in the face of climate change led her to start Ensulo Haven (U) Limited, an ecotourism venture.
In addition, she serves as Vice Chairperson of Fresh Handling Ltd., a significant fresh commodity exporter and as the CEO of Hexagon Global Ltd.
Achievements and Awards
Amelia Anne Kyambaddde possesses a generous nature and has been chosen for multiple political leadership roles.
Her background in business and her work at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives have equipped her with a wealth of knowledge when it comes to trade consulting.
Amelia is also well-known for her philanthropic work with the Twezimbe Development Foundation (TDF), an NGO that focuses on HIV/AIDS, youth, and girl child welfare, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
She also sits on the boards of several private businesses, such as the large fresh commodity exporter Fresh Handling Ltd, the trade and real estate apex body Hexagon Global Ltd, and the aquaculture and tourism project Ensulo Haven (U) Ltd.
Controversies
In a May 2023 viral audio clip, Amelia Kyambadde addressed a group of NRM cadres in the Mpigi District and said she was furiously preparing to take back her position to finish the community development projects she had left unfinished in the office.
She asserted that Hilary Innocent Kiyaga, also known as Dr. Hilderman Mazongoto, her successor, had done little to benefit their constituents except to offend the current government at funerals and gain points for entertaining guests with songs at their events.
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