From Azawi to Vanessa Nakate: Young females who inspire youths

Every March 8, the world marks the International Women’s Day, where achievements of women are recognized, and challenges identified. In line with this day, Youth Blitz looks at some of the young females who have registered achievements in the social, political and economic realm who continue to inspire the youths.

MUSICIANS

Azawi, 26, musician

Priscilla Zawedde aka Azawi is one of the hottest female musicians. She made 26 years in February and her music has been receiving a lot of airplay. She entered the entertainment scene 17 years when she joined Kika Dance Troupe. She started out as a song writer before she started singing her songs. Azawi describes her style as a cocktail of African melodies. Some of her popular songs include: Slow dancing, Quinamino, Repeat It, She is signed to the Swangz Avenue label.

Spice Diana, 26, musician

Namukwaya Hajarah Diana aka Spice Diana, 26, has been there done that musically speaking and is an inspiration to many young people. She is also the face of popular mineral water brand, Yacket, something that has increased her popularity. Some of her popular songs are: Onsanula, Kwato Wano, Ndi Mu Love, Anti Kale, Kyuma, Jangu Ondabe

Nina Roz, 27, musician

Nina Kankunda, aka Nina Roz is another popular female artiste. Some of her big hits include; Kipande, Batuwulira and Andele. Having battled with drug addiction, the 27-year-old made headlines when she opened up about her struggle. She is now leading a campaign to urge youths to stop taking drugs.

Martha Mukisa, 24, musician

She is up and coming but already there are signs that she will be a great singer. Her biggest song is Tebatukyawa but she came to the fore thanks to a collaboration she did with Eddy Kenzo, Sango which has received enough airplay. The future looks bright for her.

SPORTS PERSONALITIES

Peruth Chemutai, 22, athlete

She is a Ugandan steeplechase runner. She won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase race, becoming the first Ugandan woman ever to win an Olympic medal.
Hailing from the Bukwo District, she took up running in 2013 after attending the District Athletics Championships in Bukwo as a casual fan.
In 2016, she finished in 7th place in the final of the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics her time of 9:31.03 in the heats did not qualify her for the final. In 2019, she competed in the senior women’s race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark where she finished in 5th place.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Chemutai beat pre-race favorites such as Beatrice Chepkoech and Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi to finish with a national record time of 9:01.45 and win the gold medal.

Halimah Nakaayi, 27, athlete

She is a Ugandan middle-distance runner. She won a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
Nakaayi competed in the event at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reaching the semi-final.
She was the flag bearer for Uganda in the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Games.

POLITICIANS

Phiona Nyamutoro

She is the female national youth MP. She told Youth Blitz in an earlier interview that some relatives had tried to dissuade her from standing for the position of national female youth MP over fears of lack of capacity to raise funds to run the campaign. Yet not only did she stand against 12 other contestants she had to campaign in 135 districts in a period of 100 days countrywide since she was vying for a position to represent female youths all over the country. She holds a First-class Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies and a Master’s in Public Administration and Management from Makerere University. She served as Vice Guild President Makerere University between 2015-2016 and as a member of the National Youth Council representing Nebbi District

Anna Adeke, 30, Woman MP Soroti

Adeke is the Woman MP for Soroti. In the 10th Parliament, she was the national female youth MP. Adeke has been an activist since university days, where she rose through the ranks to become Guild President at Makerere University. She has campaigned for the creation of an independent Youth ministry and increased funding for local, regional and national youth councils.

Lilian Aber, Woman MP Kitgum district

Aber is the women’s representative for Kitgum District but she is also an outspoken politician. Her involvement in politics began at Makerere University. As a fresher, she won the election to become Guild Representative Councillor (GRC) of the School of Arts in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
She was then appointed as a Guild Minister by the Guild President, Anna Ebaju Adeke.
She stood for the guild presidency on the Forum For Democratic Change party ticket, but lost to Bwowe Ivan, who later appointed her as Guild Vice President.
While Guild Vice President, she made a bid for the presidency of the Uganda National Students Union (UNSA) which she won in 2015, replacing Matanda Abubaker (the UNSA President from 2013 to 2014).
Aber later defected from FDC to NRM, where she was appointed a senior presidential advisor on youth.

Doreen Nyanjura, Deputy Lord Mayor Kampala

Nyanjura, 33 is an FDC activist and Deputy Lord Mayor for Kampala. She also serves as the LCV Woman Councillor for Makerere University. She has been a vocal advocate
Her political activism started in 2001 when she was 12 years old. She felt that presidential candidate Kiiza Besigye was not afforded a fair playing field to present and explain his manifesto. Since she was too young to vote, she asked her father to vote for Besigye.
At university, she continued her activism and mobilization for FDC. She was appointed vice president of Makerere University Guild and organized when she participated in a number of student demonstrations on campus. Her activism drew the attention of the FDC party leaders. She is now a household name in politics.

Vanessa Nakate

Nakate, 26, is a renowned Ugandan climate activist who came to the fore after she accused news agency AP of cropping her out of a photo with famous climate activists including 17-year-old Greta Thunberg, Loukina Tille, Luisa Neubauer and Isabelle Axelsson.
The five activists had just addressed the press in Swiss resort where they held a press conference following their participation in this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) whose agenda focused on environmental issues.
Born in 1996, Nakate attended Mivule Primary School where she sat her Primary Leaving Examinations, she joined Our Lady of Good Counsel senior secondary school in Gayaza for her O level and attended her A level at Trinity College, Nabbingo.
She then joined Makerere University Business School and graduated in January 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (majoring in Marketing).