Ever heard of Africa’s youngest female Lawmaker? Born 1 January 1993 Ugandan, politician, Proscovia Alengot Oromait in 2012, (19) set the pace as the youngest member of parliament (MP) in Uganda and second on the African continent following Anton Abele.
After her father’s death, she decided to contest the National Resistance Movement primary elections to replace her father, Michael Oromait who had served as an independent just one year out a five-year term before his death. She won the primary and general elections in September 2012 with 54.2% of the votes beating eight other candidates and earning more than double the votes of the nearest runner-up.
She belongs to the National Resistance Movement, the ruling political party in Uganda. She advocates for causes including but not limited to gender issues, policy making, education, health and environment. Balancing her undergraduate studies with her parliamentary duties, has been an herculean task but she however enjoys the best of both worlds and wouldn’t have it another way.
Alengot is highly reputed for her leadship qualities, tact and zeal. Having been mentored by several women including Jessica Alupo, Uganda’s current Minister of Education, it is easier to understand where she got her drive, resilience and zeal from. She has been named among the 20 most powerful women in Africa by Forbes Magazine and has bagged several nominations for leadership and excellence.
Proscovia Alengot Oromait is on a mission to change the world and Uganda is her take off point. She is young, but she has all it takes, and because she can do it, so do you.
