Evelyn Anite

Evelyn Anite Kajik, commonly known as Evelyn Anite, is a Ugandan journalist and politician. She is the State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization in the Ugandan Cabinet since 6 June 2016.[1] Previously, she served as State Minister for Youth. She was appointed to that position on 1 March 2015, replacing Ronald Kibuule, who was appointed State Minister for Water Resources.[2] She also serves as the elected Member of Parliament for Koboko Municipality, in the West Nile sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda, a position she has occupied since 2011.[3]

Evelyn Anite
Born (1984-11-11) 11 November 1984
Adakado, Koboko District, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Alma materUganda Christian University
(Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication)
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
(Global Master of Arts Programme in International Law and Diplomacy)
OccupationJournalist, politician
Years active2006 – present
Known forPolitics
TitleState Minister for Investment & Privatization in the Cabinet of Uganda
Spouse(s)Allan Kajik

Background and education

Anite was born on 11 November 1984, in Adakado Village, Koboko District, to Steven Dravu, a civil servant, and Sarah Wokoru Dravu, a businesswoman. She belongs to the Lugbara-speaking Ugandans whose native area spills into the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is fluent in both Lugbara and Kakwa languages. She attended Arua Hill Primary School for her elementary school education. She studied at Saint Mary's Ediofe Secondary School for her O-Level studies. She transferred to Muni Girls' Secondary School, for her A-Level education. She holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, awarded by Uganda Christian University in 2008.[3][4]

In January 2018, Evelyn Anite was admitted to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, in the United States, to pursue the Master in International Relations and Diplomacy Programme.[5] In July 2019, Anite graduated from Tufts University, having met all the requirements for the Master of Arts program.[6]

Career

Right out of high school in 2005, Anite started working as a radio presenter at a radio station in Arua, continuing in that capacity intermittently until 2007. Beginning in 2006 and continuing until 2010, she worked as a radio presenter at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation in Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. From 2008 until 2010, she worked at the Uganda Media Centre as the Public Affairs Assistant for International Relations. In 2011, she contested for the parliamentary seat of Youth Representative for Northern Uganda. She beat nine other candidates to win the seat. She is the current incumbent.[3][4] On 6 June 2016, she was named State Minister for Investment and Privatization.[7]

Controversies

In 2014, Evelyn Anite was involved in an argument with Margaret Baba Diri with the latter claiming that Evelyn Anite was vying for her political seat in Koboko for the 2016 general elections.[8] In this dispute, Margaret Baba Diri claimed that Evelyn Anite was a "foreigner sowing confusion in Koboko and NRM". In response, Evelyn Anite claimed that she was only campaigning in Koboko to "relieve" her "mother" Baba Diri of the burden of "hectic politics".[8]

In February 2014, during the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, ahead of the 2016 presidential elections, Evelyn Anite moved a resolution to declare President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the official party flag bearer. The resolution that came to be known as the Kyankwanzi Resolution, was met with resistance.[9][10]

In response to her support for the removal of the age limit bill,[11] Evelyn Anite claimed that she had received multiple death threats.[12][13][14] This prompted the government to give her a security detail.[15][16] She also described fellow legislators who were opposed to the bill as "selfish hooligans".[17]

Speaking in support of the removal of the age limit bill, Evelyn Anite that the ruling party had "the numbers and the national army on their side".[18] The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) has since distanced itself from this utterance.[19]

In a letter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in July 2018, Hamilton Telecom accused Evelyn Anite of discrediting the telecommunications firm from bidding for the purchase of Uganda Telecom (UTL).[20][21]

In July 2018, it was alleged that Evelyn Anite had fled the country,[22] on account of being under investigation following reports that allegedly solicited a $8 million (Shs 28.8billion) bribe from a group of Arab investors.[23] She in turn sued a local newspaper for publishing the story about her.[24]

Following her admission to Tufts University, a section of Ugandans living in the United States started a petition and carried out a demonstration demanding that her admission to the university be cancelled.[25]

They alleged that the United States should not provide refuge for corrupt officials under the guise of further studies.[26] Tufts University rejected the request stating that she had done nothing wrong to warrant her expulsion. They further added that as a student at the school of law, her privacy was protected.[27]

Personal life

Evelyn Anite is married to Allan Kajik, a former deputy Resident District Commissioner of Kampala. They got married in 2011 and had 2 children as of 2018.[22]

See also

References
  1. Uganda State House (6 June 2016). "Museveni's new cabinet list At 6 June 2016" (PDF). Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  2. Uganda State House (1 March 2015). "Full Cabinet List As At 1 March 2015" (PDF). Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  3. Parliament of Uganda (2016). "Parliament of Uganda Members of the 10th Parliament: Evelyn Anite, Member of Parliament for Koboko Municipality". Kampala: Parliament of Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  4. Tumusiime, Abdulaziizi (16 November 2013). "The Making of Northern Youth MP Evelyn Anite". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  5. Asiimwe, Brian (13 July 2018). "Minister Anite Takes Leave To United States Amid USh28 Billion Bribe Saga". Kampala: Softpower Uganda. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. Monitor Reporter (21 July 2019). "Minister Anite graduates from US university". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  7. Uganda State House (6 June 2016). "Uganda's New Cabinet As At 6 June 2016". Scribd.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. Deo Walusimbi (2 May 2014). "Anite Is A Foreigner, Fellow MP Charges". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  9. Alfred Tumusabe and Arans Tabaruka (24 April 2014). "Kanungu Opposes NRM Caucus Resolution". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. Olive Eyotaru (14 July 2020). "NRM Electoral Commission Disowns Museveni Sole Candidate Project". Kampala: Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. SoftPower (10 October 2017). "Minister Anite Pulls Idi Amin Like Stunt To Promote Anti-Age Limit Campaign". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. The Insider (21 September 2017). "People Threatening To Kill Me Like Kaweesi – Anite". Kampala: The Insider Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  13. Marion Ayebazibwe (19 July 2017). "Anite Receives Death Threats Over Age Limit Amendment". Kampala: The Tower Post. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  14. Edge Uganda (30 September 2017). "Anite: I'm taking screenshots of those who want to kill me". Kampala: Edge Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  15. The Sunrise Uganda (29 June 2018). "Army patrols to guard Age limit top backers". Kampala: The Sunrise Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  16. Josephine Namuloki (12 July 2018). "Why Policemen Hate Guarding MPs". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  17. The Insider Uganda (27 September 2017). "Anite describes MPs against Age limit removal as 'Selfish Hooligans'". Kampala: The Insider Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  18. Uganda Radio Network (14 September 2017). "Age limit: Army is on our side, says minister Evelyn Anite". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  19. Mivule Gyagenda (14 March 2018). ""Don't Talk For Us," UPDF Distances Self From Anite "Majje" Bluff". SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  20. Kim Aine (9 July 2018). "Anite Accused of Failing Bidder as UTL Storm Rages On". Kampala: ChimpReports. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  21. George Okello (9 July 2018). "Hamilton lawyers take on minister Anite after Cabinet fallout in UTL saga". Kampala: PML Daily. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  22. The Insider Uganda (18 July 2020). "Bribery Saga: Minister Anite Flees Country With Entire Family". Kampala: The Insider Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  23. Sadab Kitatta Kaaya (4 May 2018). "Anite runs to Museveni over Shs 29bn bribe". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  24. Vicky Wandawa (4 August 2018). "Anite sues local newspaper for Sh500 million". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  25. David Mujuni (24 July 2018). "Inside Minister Evelyn Anite's UGX 342 Million Scholarship in America". Kampala: Campus Bee Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  26. Edge Uganda (20 July 2018). "Activists pressure American university to dismiss Anite". Kampala: Edge Uganda. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  27. Alex Otto (11 August 2018). "Tufts University Declines to Expel Anite". Kampala: Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
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