Aggrey Awori
Encyclopedia
Aggrey Siryoyi Awori is a Uganda
n politician and a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement
(NRM) party. He was the Minister for Information & Communications Technology
in the Ugandan Cabinet
, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011. In the Cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was dropped from the cabinet and replaced by Ruhakana Rugunda
. He was also an Ex-Officio Member of Parliament (MP), on account of being a Cabinet Minister. Prior to that, he had represented "Samia-Bugwe North", Busia District in the Ugandan Parliament, from 2001 until 2006. Awori was previously an outspoken opposition member of parliament
for the Uganda People's Congress
political party.
, near the Ugandan/Kenyan border as the 10th of 17 children. His parents were Canon Jeremiah Musungu Awori, a pioneer African priest of the Anglican Church in East Africa and Mrs Mariamu Odongo Awori, a nurse and community teacher. Aggrey's siblings include the ninth Kenya
n vice-president Arthur Moody Awori and Mary Okelo, the first woman in East Africa to head a Barclays Bank branch and the founder of Kenya's women only bank; the Kenya Women Finance Trust. Mary is also the founder of Makini Schools, a leading school chain in East Africa
.
in Mbale District
and King's College Budo, in Wakiso District
, both in Uganda. While at Kings College Budo (1959 to 1961), Aggrey was selected among a few others for elite military officers training at Sandhurst Military College in UK. However, his father Canon Awori rejected the idea of his talented son joining the military. From 1961 to 1965, he studied at Harvard University
on a scholarship. The first year he took nuclear physics
, but then switched over to political economics.
While at Harvard, Aggrey became the first person in Heptagonal track history to win three events - the long jump, high hurdles, and 60-yard dash, tying the Heps record in the hurdles and setting the mark in the dash. He also ran on the victorious mile relay team which tied the Heptagonal record. By the time he graduated from Harvard, Awori held three outdoor and five indoor school records. He also represented Uganda in the 110 metres hurdles
at the Summer Olympics in 1960
and 1964
, but failed to win any medals.
Awori also holds a Master of Arts
degree from Syracuse University
, in New York State, in the United States of America.
's coup, because during Amin's first coup attempt he didn't broadcast a speech Amin gave, lying to him by saying that they were live on air. He went into political exile in Kenya
, where he taught at the University of Nairobi
until 1976 and then traveled around Africa visiting Tanzania
, Liberia
and Senegal
and returning to Nairobi
in 1979.
After Idi Amin was overthrown in 1979, Awori returned to Uganda. He ran for a seat in the National Assembly of Uganda
, but lost. He then became ambassador to the United States
, until being transferred by Tito Okello Lutwa in 1985. He served as Uganda's Ambassador to Belgium
from 1985 until 1987, when he was dropped by Yoweri Museveni
.
After a brief asylum in Nairobi
, Kenya
, Awori started to build up a rebel group operating from eastern Uganda. He stated, that his reason for doing so was mainly anger at Museveni's National Resistance Army
, which had confiscated property of his. In 1992, he dissolved his rebel group, which had consisted mainly of young fighters. In 1993, Awori then met with the Museveni in New York
and then was elected to the Constituent Assembly to make the Constitution and as a member of parliament.
He came third in the 2001 presidential elections, polling 1.41% of the vote.
.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n politician and a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement
National Resistance Movement
The National Resistance Movement , commonly referred to as the Movement, is a political organization in Uganda.Until a referendum in 2005, Uganda held elections on a non-party basis. The NRM dominates parliament, however, and is expected to continue to do so. The presidential elections of 12 March...
(NRM) party. He was the Minister for Information & Communications Technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
in the Ugandan Cabinet
Cabinet of Uganda
According to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011. In the Cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was dropped from the cabinet and replaced by Ruhakana Rugunda
Ruhakana Rugunda
Ruhakana Rugunda is the current Minister of Information & Communication Technology in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. He replaced Aggrey Awori, who was dropped from the Cabinet...
. He was also an Ex-Officio Member of Parliament (MP), on account of being a Cabinet Minister. Prior to that, he had represented "Samia-Bugwe North", Busia District in the Ugandan Parliament, from 2001 until 2006. Awori was previously an outspoken opposition member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Uganda People's Congress
Uganda People's Congress
The Uganda People's Congress is a political party in Uganda.Uganda People's Congress was founded in 1960 by Milton Obote, who led the country to Independence and later served two presidential terms under the party's banner...
political party.
Background
Awori was born in the village of Nambale, Iganga DistrictIganga District
Iganga District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Iganga, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, near the Ugandan/Kenyan border as the 10th of 17 children. His parents were Canon Jeremiah Musungu Awori, a pioneer African priest of the Anglican Church in East Africa and Mrs Mariamu Odongo Awori, a nurse and community teacher. Aggrey's siblings include the ninth Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n vice-president Arthur Moody Awori and Mary Okelo, the first woman in East Africa to head a Barclays Bank branch and the founder of Kenya's women only bank; the Kenya Women Finance Trust. Mary is also the founder of Makini Schools, a leading school chain in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
Education
He attended Nabumali High SchoolNabumali High School
Nabumali High School , is a mixed, boarding, secondary school , in Eastern Uganda.-Location:The school is located in the village of Nabumali, in Mbale District, off the Tororo-Mbale Road, approximately , south of the city of Mbale...
in Mbale District
Mbale District
Mbale District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after the largest city in the district, Mbale, which also servess as the main administrative and commercial center in the sub-region.-Location:...
and King's College Budo, in Wakiso District
Wakiso District
Wakiso District is a district in Central Uganda that encircles Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The district is named after the town of Wakiso, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, both in Uganda. While at Kings College Budo (1959 to 1961), Aggrey was selected among a few others for elite military officers training at Sandhurst Military College in UK. However, his father Canon Awori rejected the idea of his talented son joining the military. From 1961 to 1965, he studied at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
on a scholarship. The first year he took nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
, but then switched over to political economics.
While at Harvard, Aggrey became the first person in Heptagonal track history to win three events - the long jump, high hurdles, and 60-yard dash, tying the Heps record in the hurdles and setting the mark in the dash. He also ran on the victorious mile relay team which tied the Heptagonal record. By the time he graduated from Harvard, Awori held three outdoor and five indoor school records. He also represented Uganda in the 110 metres hurdles
110 metres hurdles
The 110 metres hurdles is a hurdling track and field event for men. It is incuded in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympic Games. The female counterpart is the 100 metre hurdles. As part of a racing event, ten hurdles of 1.067 metres in height are evenly spaced along a straight...
at the Summer Olympics in 1960
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
and 1964
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, but failed to win any medals.
Awori also holds a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, in New York State, in the United States of America.
Work experience
In 1967, Awori was appointed the first local director of Uganda Television (UTV). In 1971 Awori was jailed for two months after Idi AminIdi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
's coup, because during Amin's first coup attempt he didn't broadcast a speech Amin gave, lying to him by saying that they were live on air. He went into political exile in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, where he taught at the University of Nairobi
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
until 1976 and then traveled around Africa visiting Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
and Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and returning to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
in 1979.
After Idi Amin was overthrown in 1979, Awori returned to Uganda. He ran for a seat in the National Assembly of Uganda
National Assembly of Uganda
The Parliament of Uganda, comprises 215 Constituency Representatives, 79 District Woman Representatives, 10 Uganda People's Defence Forces Representatives, 5 Representatives of the Youth, 5 Representatives of Persons with Disabilities, 5 Representatives of Workers, and 13 Ex-officio Members.After...
, but lost. He then became ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, until being transferred by Tito Okello Lutwa in 1985. He served as Uganda's Ambassador to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
from 1985 until 1987, when he was dropped by Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
.
After a brief asylum in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Awori started to build up a rebel group operating from eastern Uganda. He stated, that his reason for doing so was mainly anger at Museveni's National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
, which had confiscated property of his. In 1992, he dissolved his rebel group, which had consisted mainly of young fighters. In 1993, Awori then met with the Museveni in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and then was elected to the Constituent Assembly to make the Constitution and as a member of parliament.
He came third in the 2001 presidential elections, polling 1.41% of the vote.
Personal details
He is married to Thelma Awori, the Director for Africa of the United Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
.