Namirembe Bitamazire

Namirembe Bitamazire
Born(1941-07-17)17 July 1941
Central Region, Protectorate of Uganda
Died14 January 2026(2026-01-14) (aged 84)
Alma materMakerere University
(Diploma in Education)
(Bachelor of Arts)
(Master of Arts)
OccupationsAcademic, politician
Years active1971–2011
Known forPolitics

Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire (17 July 1941 – 14 January 2026) was a Ugandan academic and politician. She was the Chancellor of the Uganda Management Institute.[1] She was minister of education from 1979 to 1980 and again from 2005 to 2011. She also served as the member of parliament representing Mpigi District women in the Ugandan Parliament from 2001 to 2011.[2][3]

Early life and education

Bitamazire was born on 17 July 1941 in the Central Region of Protectorate of Uganda. She attended Trinity College Nabbingo for her high school education.[4] She went on to obtain a Diploma in education from Makerere University in 1964. She followed that with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 and a Master of Arts degree in 1987, both from Makerere University.[2]

Career

From 1971 to 1973, she served as a director of the East African Harbours Corporation, part of the first East African Community. She also served as the headteacher of the Tororo Girls School from 1971 to 1974. From 1974 to 1979, she served as a senior education officer in Uganda's Ministry of Education and Sports. In 1979, she was appointed minister of education, serving in that capacity until 1980. From 1981 until 1996, Bitamazire was the deputy chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission.[5] She was appointed as minister of state for education in 1999, serving in that capacity until 2005, when she was appointed minister of education and sports.[6] In 2010, Mpigi District was split into three parts; Butambala District, Gomba District, and the smaller Mpigi District of today. During the 2011 national elections, Bitamazire was defeated in the primaries by Mariam Nalubega, also of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) political party, in Butambala District.[7] In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, Bitamazire was dropped from the cabinet and was replaced by Jessica Alupo.[8]

Bitamazire later served as the chancellor of the Uganda Management Institute, a public, degree-awarding, tertiary institution of higher education, with accreditation equivalent to a university.[1]

Personal life and death

Bitamazire was married to Alphonce Bitamazire of the Uganda People's Defence Force. She belonged to the NRM political party. She was a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women from 1998 to 2001 and was a founding member of the Forum for African Women Educationalists.[2]

Bitamazire died on 14 January 2026, at the age of 84.[9][10][11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Okoth, Cecilia (2 August 2013). "Former minister Bitamazire new UMI Chancellor". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c United Nations (2010). "Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, the Minister of Education and Sports of Uganda, From 2005 Until 2011". New York City: United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  3. ^ Luganda, Emmanuel (4 January 2014). "Ex-minister Bitamazire 'critical' in Nairobi hospital". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  4. ^ Ssenkaaba, Stephen (14 July 2007). "Nabbingo savours 65-year-old fruit". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  5. ^ Nangonzi, Yudaya (5 June 2024). "Namirembe Bitamazire reminisces about golden years of public service". The Observer. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Full ministerial list published". The New Humanitarian. 27 July 2001. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  7. ^ Masaba, John (7 May 2011). "Uganda Gets Youngest Parliament". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Comprehensive List of New Cabinet Appointments & Dropped Ministers". Uganda State House. Facebook.com. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  9. ^ Ruby, Josh (15 January 2026). "Uganda mourns loss of education pioneer Namirembe Bitamazire". MBU. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  10. ^ Naimanye, Andrew Victor Mawanda. "Ex-Education Minister, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, Dies At 84". Nilepost News. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Education fraternity mourns ex-minister Bitamazire". Monitor. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  12. ^ Kitubi, Martin (17 January 2026). "Celebrating Life: Bitamazire's candle burns out". New Vision. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
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