Who is Bahireira Tumwekwase Sylvia? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Azairwe Dorothy Kabaraitsya, National Resistance Movement(NRM) and the early life and education of the women’s Member of Parliament for Kamwenge District in the eleventh Parliament of Uganda
Bahireira Tumwekwase Sylvia, also called Omushaho, is a Ugandan politician and professional nurse.
Hon. Sylvia is the Women’s Member of Parliament for Kamwenge District in the eleventh Parliament of Uganda.
Early Life and Education
Bahireira Tumwekwase Sylvia was born in Kamwenge District in western Uganda which is a part of the Toro Kingdom.
Bahireira holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Clarke International University.
She enrolled at Clarke International University, then International Health Sciences University, in 2019 and was among the University’s second batch of nursing graduates in December 2022.
Bahairera Sylvia then enrolled for a Master of Science in Nursing programme at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi.
Her primary source of political motivation came from observing her father, a small village leader, deal with people’s concerns.
Her family was quite supportive. Her husband and children were supportive and accommodating, even when her career required her to be away from them.
She also received encouragement from the residents of Kamwenge District, who saw her as a light of hope and change.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Bahireira was appointed as Senior Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Rukungyu Hospital in Kamwenge shortly after graduating from Clarke International University.
While in the hospital, she altered the entire nursing section by applying all she learned at Clarke International University to her profession.
After earning her master’s degree from Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Bahireira still felt compelled to assist her community. She then returned to work as the Kamwenge District’s acting Health Officer.
While serving as acting health officer, she realised that in order to effect genuine change, she needed to be active in policymaking. She thus quit government employment to work for a Belgian development agency while pursuing her political goals.
Sylvia contested for the NRM flagship in the 2020 NRM primaries but lost to Azairwe Dorothy Kabaraitsya. However, she still proceeded to take part in the 2021 General elections.
In the 2021 General elections, Bahireira Tumwekwase Sylvia stood as an Independent Candidate for Women Representative (MP) – Kamwenge.
She garnered 38,309 votes and won the elections against her other only competitor Azairwe Dorothy Kabaraitsya of the National Resistance Movement party who garnered 36,601 votes.
Achievements and Awards
Sylvia Bahireira Tumwekwase is a member of Uganda’s Parliamentary Health Committee. She recommended that there was a need to assist Mulago Hospital by improving regional hospitals because the lack of full operation and streamlining in these regional hospitals made Mulago a nightmare.
Sylvia’s thesis at Clarke International University was aimed at supporting pregnant mothers. It was thus titled “Factors Influencing Antenatal Care Service Utilisation by Pregnant Mothers of Kyadondo South Constituency of Wakiso District, Ndejje Health Centre IV.”
Controversies
When Hon. Dorothy was declared the NRM flag bearer in the October 2020 NRM Primaries, Sylvia told her followers that it was as she had predicted and that their only hope now was not to carry the NRM flag, but to win the general election.
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