Fish vendor now Uganda’s youngest serving MP

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In 2011, Proscovia Alengot Oromait was only 19 when she became MP for Usuk County in Katakwi District. It made her the youngest political figure in Africa.

Uganda has often thrust surprising talents in elections. In 2011, Proscovia Alengot Oromait was only 19 when she became MP for Usuk County in Katakwi District. It made her the youngest political figure in Africa.For Ms Auma, however, her story is that of grass to grace. Her parents, Dickson Wandera and Betty Nekesa, had seven children. Ms Auma studied social science at Kyambogo University and graduated in 2019.“It was not easy because all my siblings were relying on our father’s little salary as head teacher,” she told the Daily Monitor.“We managed to attend school despite the challenge, along the way, of frequently being sent home for school fees,” she added.Her mother had shown leadership talent. As village chairperson for Buyuya in Masafu Town Council of Busia, she was also a fish trader. “I had to plough people’s gardens to raise additional money to contribute to school fees,” says Ms Auma.Through side jobs, she raised her initial capital of USh5,000, which she used to buy and sell tomatoes during her holidays. She later grew her business by importing clothes from Nairobi.Her first bitter lesson was on currency exchange rate. BUying stock from Kenya required conversion of Ugandan shillings. Here is where middlemen milked her dry. At university, she started selling fish at Banda Market in Kampala, frequented by college students. Her mother supplied the fish from Busia.In her final year, Ms Auma quit fish vending and returned home.“I realised that Busia being a conduit of business products deserves better. Our district borders Lake Victoria and has gold deposits, yet it still lags behind. This hurt me,” she said.“So I decided to contest as Woman Member of Parliament to make things better for my people.” At 23, she was seen as too young and wild. Ms Auma hired boda bodas and went door-to-door to meet with her potential voters. Some dismissed her, others thought she was a joker. Eventually, she trounced seven rival

Fish vendor now Uganda’s youngest serving MP

What you need to know:

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