2022 was a roller-coaster year full of talking points from various women of all angles. The talkability around these women rotated around power struggles, relationships, ego, Achievements, controversies among many other things that made news all year long. In no particular order, we compiled a list of some of the female figures that made news in 2022.
HON. ANNET ANITA AMONG - SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
She is the incubent speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda, a position she took on after Hon. Jacob Oulanya her predecessor died on March 20. To win the speakership race, undoubtedly her biggest highlight this year, Among - also Bukedea Woman legislator polled 401 votes ahead of her counterpart, Bugiri municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa who garnered 61 votes.
On several occasions during plenary in the August house, she was faced with chaos and resistance from some of her members. Notable to note is the Nyege-Nyege Festival saga where some members made an emotional plea asking her to stop the festival from taking place reasoning that it promoted moral decadence.
Although she some members insisted Nyege Nyege was a tourism and money making event, Among asserted her powers and insisted that it would not take place over her dead body! Later alone, the Prime Minister politely insisted that the event will take place, with a few moral adjustments. At this point, the Nyege matter had shifted into a direct alteration between the speaker and the Prime Minister - a case of Legislature versus Executive. Long story short, Nyege Nyege happened.
Away from the high position she holds in the August House, she has trended since the year began. With her skin colour, many social media users claimed she bleaches and for this, about four bloggers were whirled behind bars.
Her marriage with the Federation of Uganda Football Association(FUFA) boss Moses Magogo came as shock to many and turned into a comedy skit when news circulated that their marriage had been canceled by then Town Clerk of Makindye Division, Geoffrey Rwakabale. On the same note, Lands Minister Persis Namuganza recently raised concern over the same marriage terming it fraudulent.
Her socialite lifestyle was another that put her on spot. An expensive Range Rover with a customized number plate left Ugandans in rage and to further complicate issues, another car, a Mercedes Benz worth over 2 billion surfaced and shut down the Ugandan internet space.
Before Ugandans thought she was done with the showbiz, she gifted her new husband Moses Magogo a new Range Rover on his birthday and received a mere cake from him on hers. It is speculated that Magogo also gifted her with a Range Rover later that evening.
It was still not over when Persis Namuganza, the state minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development accused her of "procuring a fraudulent marriage" with her husband. The same marriage had earlier been canceled by then Town Clerk of Makindye Division, Geoffrey Rwakabale. Recently, echoing her move, Lands Minister Persis Namuganza recently raised concern over the same marriage terming fraudulent.
AZAWI - SINGER
Azawi managed to hold a successful concert this year on July 22 at Lugogo Grounds. Being her maiden concert, the Swangz Avenue songstress proved her musical prowess and stage performance that further cemented her position amongst the top singers in the land.
Having enjoyed only two and half years on the music scene, a time soo short for a typical Ugandan artiste to stage a big show, many questioned whether the concert was ideal - to her, it was and she pulled it off. In this time, Azawi boasts of an EP - Quinamino, African Music Album and its Deluxe.
PERUTH CHEMUTAI - ATHLETE
Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai won bronze after finishing third in the 3000m Steeplechase final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The 23 year old Olympic Champion could have had a good go at Gold but fell when she crashed over the barrier. But she showed a strong heart to fight on before coming home in a time of 9 minutes and 23.24 seconds.
JENNIFER BAMUTURAKI - UGANDA AIRLINES CEO
In early July, Ms Bamuturaki was confirmed by Works and Transport minister Gen. Katumba Wamala as the new Uganda Airlines CEO. Her appointment came barely a fortnight after the the Ministry had hired a consultant - PricewaterhouseCoopers to lead the search process to fill the position that had earlier been put out for expression of interest from suitable candidates.
Her unusual appointment by the President, on the day she was meant to apply for the job raised alot of questions in the public domain, given the fact that the consultancy firm was earlier paid shs98 million for the task.
Additionaly, she was later put in an unenviable position of convincing legislators that she is the perfect for the Airlines top job after she was tasked to present her CV to ascertain if she was fit.
Bamuturaki had discrepancies sorrounding her name and aswell as inconsistencies in her academic documents, issues that gave her a hard time explaining the above matters under oath before the COSASE committee in Parliament.
Bamuturaki lurched from one crisis to another all year long not until recently when she had the last laugh - being elected President of African Airlines Association.
REBECCA KADAGA - MINISTER AND FORMER SPEAKER
Why does Sheebah's "go down low" come to my mind when her name comes into the picture? Well, it's the "Paka Chini" dance she showcased at this year's Nyege Nyege festival. Days before the dance moves, she had gone bear-fist at her predecessor Rt. Hon Anita Among for having wanted to stop the festival over immorality. Had they been these women in "Butale Bwamubuulo" (local village markets), the two would have pounded each other's chests. Despite the Parliament's resolution against the event, Hon. Kadaga, who also doubles as the first deputy prime minister of Uganda and the Minister for East African Community Affairs visited Itanda Falls, the festival grounds and applauded its organizers for the idea which supports the ordinary people of her region in business terms.
The gesture further increased her political glory and might in the region and a darling to all party lovers who found their freedom fighter in her.
HALIMA NAKAYI - ATHLETE
As soon as the year 2022 stretched its feet, Ugandan athlete Halima Nakaayi rose the country's flag high in Germany in the World Athletic Indoor Tour. She later made headlines in the sports columns when she kept her feet strong in Common Wealth Games in Birmingham, World Indoor Championships in Oregon, USA, and later won Uganda's first-ever bronze medal in the World Indoor Championship in Belgrade, Serbia.
SHEEBAH KARUNGI - SINGER
She kicked off the year started with a controversial split from her former manager Jeff Kiwanuka, the boss at Team No Sleep(TNS). Her move came with alot of criticism from a section of the public who claimed that her musical might depended on Kiwanuka and with their separation, she was bound to musically fall. The self proclaimed Queen Karma however challenged that narratige and went hard on her music, releasing more hits among which were; Kansalewo, Muwoomya, Mukama Yamba, Nkwata Bulungi, nabaleka among others.
She further shut her critics up when she held a successful two days concert at Kampala Serena Hotel. To many Ugandan musicians, it is a hustle to fill up the venue in just one night but she did it in two consecutive days. This was a record that could live long before anyone breaks it.
Earlier in the year, she also made news after ranting that a famous political figure had sexually harrased her.
WINNIE NWAGI - SINGER
The Swangz Avenue songstress is another woman who endlessly was in the news this years. In this lane, she can only be compared to the Rt. Hon. Speaker. For most times, she did not make the news, she was the news herself. Her scandles were a combination of fights - both verbal and physical. Some of the notable ones include being denied access to the Internal Affairs Ministry by security because of her skimpy dress code, again she was bounced at Illusion, a night hangout along Acacia Avenue, slapping a fan who was filming her underneath while on stage, verbal exchange with UK based promoter among many others.
With the seemingly ever growing hatred against the singer from the public domain with a section terming her as the "Bad Mannered" - she managed to get an overwhelming influx of fans at her maiden concert "Fire Concert" at Lugogo Cricket Oval. Dubbed "Fire concert".
This was a big win for the songstress given the fact that she had allegedly been sidelined by her music label that had denied her a Concert over the years eben when her music power and consistency was visible - thanks to KT promotions who later took her on into the Concert.
HAJJAT KULUTHUM NABUNNYA - MUZAATA'S WIDOW
It all began on streets that the late Sheik Nuhu Muzaata's widow, Hajjati Kuluthum had found a new suitor and was soon getting remarried. Then the rumours ceased to be when Kuluthum and her secret lover, South African-based businessman Eng. Akram Gumisiriza opened their love to the public. A section of Muslim clerics and believers then raged in response saying her actions where demeaning and disrespectful to her late husband - Sheik Nuhu Muzaata, she however gave them a deaf ear.
In November, the doctorate holder introduced Akram to her parents in Kyanja. At the function, Kulthum was gifted with a posh car that left netizens talking. In December, the two advanced for their wedding at Old Kampala mosque in pomp and glamour. With many prophesying that the marriage will not last, we only await the test of time.
SHAMIM MALENDE - MP
She has been a strong pillar to the National Unity platform(NUP) since the year began. She has been to courts fighting for the freedom of various NUP supporters. Even when it seemed impossible to secure bails for Kawempe North Legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya and Makindye West legislator Allan Sewanyana she still stood strong in the fight.
She however was attacked by a strange illness, fainted, and was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
HON. ROBINAH NABBANJA - PRIME MINISTER
The Right Honourable Prime Minister kickstarted the year with bang of a viral video of her failing to make her point clear with claims that she lost words, upon leaning back on her chair - she nearly fell. The video that went viral however Potrero a jolly and fun side of the Minister. She was later involved in a few power struggles with Speaker Among over the Nyege-Nyege Festival occurace and another with the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo.
Her rift with Dollo started when Nabbanja, stormed into the Mengo Magistrate court and grilled Amon Magezi, a grade one Magistrate for having ordered imprisonment for a widow of seven children in a land dispute. She ordered for her release.
In response to her action, she received fire from Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo, warning her against poking her nose into court matters. The two however resolved their matters.
She was then named in the top 100 most influential women in Africa by Avance Media in Accra Ghana. Her other public appearances in social events like the MTN marathon and Eddy Kenzo Festival also gained her talkability after relating with the normal people in same audiences.
DESIRE LUZINDA - ARTISTE
The songstress turned pastor had us once again this year with her dating rumors with fellow artiste, levixone. In July, speculations where put aside after the pair appeared in a leaked video at a seemingly local introduction ceremony, with Desire introducing Levixone to her parents.
The development however took a new twist after the said ceremony later resulted into a music video - Yoya, a collaboration between Levixone and Ray G with Luzinda featuring as a video vixen.
It was however learnt that the video can as a diversion from the main point of them officiating their love relationship, one they have since preferred to keep away from the limelight.
With all this in play, the general public was left in wonder, questing whether the two made the introduction or it was simply a video shoot!
HON. SARAH OPENDI - MP
The Tororo district Woman MP secured leave of Parliament to introduce the Alcohol control bill in November. The private members bill seeks to repeal the current legislation including the Liquor act. the Portable spirit and the Enguli Act, all enacted in the 1990's. To her, these have become absolute and do not address the challenges Alcohol consumption brings.
The highly controversial sad bill received alot of resistance from members of he August house and those in the public but Opendi insisted that the bill will comprehensively address the regulation of the manufacture and importation, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks . Prior to this bill, the same Opendi asked the Education ministry to ban artistes performances in schools. Her concern was with the way these artistes dress and dance before the children which does not portray the rightful values of our society.
JULIANA KANYOMOZI - ARTISTE
After 9 years, the songbird did stage a concert again at the Kampala Serena Hotel in August! She sings at her pace, bakes in darkness, and puts to light what no one has made. This year, she came again stronger than before and filled up the venue, her power was at staging a concert with no new musical projects and still pulling it off, an element that is very hard amongst artistes. Then she brought back SweetKid and the country went crazy for him. She was first put on spot for canceling a show that had been organized by Jazz Safari proprietor Tshaka Mayanja. For the first time, she came out into the media to explain her actions.
Having placed her concert on dates earlier booked by fellow Singers- the B2C father put her in the news with judgement of why she was not giving space to other artistes to have a piece of the music audience.
