Cecilia Ogwal Biography, Age, Husband, Children, Wiki, Family, Death Cause & Obituary
Cecilia Ogwal (born 6 December 1946 – died 18 January 2024, Aged: 77 years old) aka Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal was a Ugandan politician, businesswoman, and management consultant who served as a Member of Parliament for the Dokolo District Women’s Constituency from 2011 until she died in 2024.
She has continuously been a member of Uganda’s legislature since 1996, representing different constituencies and political parties. She was known for her dedication, consistency, and advocacy for women’s rights and democracy in Uganda. She died on 18 January 2024, at the age of 77, after a long battle with cancer.
Family and Education
Cecilia Ogwal was born on 6 December 1946, in Dokolo District, British Protectorate of Uganda, to a prominent family of chiefs and clan leaders. She attended local schools in Uganda, where she excelled academically and socially. In 1967, at the age of 21, she was admitted to the University of East Africa in Nairobi (now known as the University of Nairobi) to study for a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
She graduated from Nairobi University in 1970, becoming one of the first Ugandan women to obtain a university degree. She also held a Certificate in Human Resources Management from what was then called the Institute of Public Administration but is now known as Uganda Management Institute. She held two other certificates; one in Christian-Based Values from the Haggai Institute, Singapore, and the other in Public-Private Partnership, from Australia.
Cecilia Ogwal Wiki/Bio
| Name | Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal |
| Born | 6 December 1946 |
| Died | 18 January 2024 |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Alma mater | University of Nairobi (BCom) Uganda Management Institute (Cert.Hum.Res.Mgmnt) |
| Occupation | Politician, businesswoman, management consultant |
| Years active | 1970–2024 |
| Known for | Politics, Miss Uganda 1969 |
| Title | Member of Parliament Dokolo District Women’s Constituency |
| Spouse | Lameck Ogwal |
| Children | Seven biological children and several adopted ones |
| Social Media | Wikipedia: Cecilia_Ogwal Instagram: ceciliaogwal |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Politics
Cecilia Ogwal’s professional life unfolded with diverse experiences. From 1979 until 1980, Ogwal worked at the Uganda Embassy in Kenya, as the Liaison Officer for Returning Ugandan Refugees, following the fall of Idi Amin’s regime. From 1980 until 1981, she worked as the Operations Manager at the Uganda Advisory Board of Trade, where she promoted trade and investment opportunities in Uganda. In 1982, she was one of the founders of the Housing Finance Bank, working there until 1984. She served as the Chairperson of Uganda Development Bank, from 1981 until 1986, overseeing the financing of development projects in various sectors.
Ogwal became involved in Ugandan politics, serving as the Acting Secretary General of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) from 1985 to 1992. UPC was the ruling party of Uganda from 1962 to 1971, and again from 1980 to 1985, under the leadership of Milton Obote, the first Prime Minister and second President of Uganda. Ogwal was a loyal supporter of Obote, who was her mentor and friend.
In 1994, she was part of the Constituent Assembly which drafted and promulgated the 1995 Ugandan Constitution, which established a multiparty system and a presidential term limit in Uganda. She was elected as the Member of Parliament for Lira Municipality in 1996, under the UPC ticket. She retained her seat in 2001, becoming one of the vocal critics of President Yoweri Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Rise to Fame
In 2004, Ogwal left UPC and joined the newly formed Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, which was led by Dr. Kizza Besigye, a former ally of Museveni who turned into his main challenger. Ogwal cited the need for a stronger opposition and a more democratic UPC as her reasons for switching parties. In 2006, she lost her Lira Municipality seat to Jimmy Akena, the son of Obote, who had taken over the leadership of UPC. Ogwal accused Akena of rigging the election and betraying his father’s legacy. She challenged the results in court but lost the case.
In 2011, Ogwal contested and won the Women’s Representative seat for the newly created Dokolo District, under the FDC ticket. She was re-elected in 2016 and 2021, becoming one of the longest-serving MPs in Uganda. She was a member of the parliamentary Committee of Physical Infrastructure, where she oversaw policy matters related to Lands, Housing, Urban Development, Works and Transport, and Physical Planning. She was also a member of the budget committee, where she scrutinized the government’s expenditure and revenue plans.
Other Works
Cecilia Ogwal was known for her outspokenness, courage, and integrity in parliament. She often clashed with Museveni and his ministers over issues such as human rights, corruption, electoral reforms, and constitutional amendments. She was arrested several times for participating in protests and demonstrations against the government. She was also physically assaulted by some NRM MPs in 2014 after she accused them of receiving bribes to support the removal of the presidential age limit, which would allow Museveni to run for a sixth term in 2021.
Cecilia did not back down from her stance and continued to demand accountability and transparency from the government. She was also a champion for women’s rights and empowerment, advocating for gender equality, education, health, and economic opportunities for women. She was a role model and mentor for many young women who aspired to join politics and leadership.
Net worth
According to various online sources, Cecilia Ogwal’s net worth was estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million at the age of 73 years old. She earned most of her money from being a politician, businesswoman, and management consultant. She served as a Member of Parliament for the Dokolo District Women’s Constituency from 2011 until she died in 2024, earning a monthly salary of about UGX 25 million (about $6,800) as of 2019.
She also had other sources of income, such as allowances, gratuities, and pensions from her previous roles in the government and the private sector. She was the founder of the Housing Finance Bank, the Chairperson of the Uganda Development Bank, the Liaison Officer for Returning Ugandan Refugees, and the Operations Manager at the Uganda Advisory Board of Trade. She also ran a consultancy firm that offered services in human resources management, public-private partnerships, and Christian-based values.
Height, Weight, and Physical stats
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 4″. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 55 kg. In Pounds: 121 lbs. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Black |
Modeling
Cecilia Ogwal was interested in modeling from an early age and participated in several beauty contests and fashion shows. In 1969, at the age of 23, she won the first “Miss Uganda” contest, adding a touch of glamour to her multifaceted life. She was crowned by the then Prime Minister of Uganda, Milton Obote, who later became her mentor and friend in politics.
She also represented Uganda at the Miss World pageant in London, where she showcased her beauty, intelligence, and culture. She later said that winning the Miss Uganda title was a turning point in her life, as it opened many doors and opportunities for her. She also used her platform to promote education, health, and empowerment for women and girls in Uganda.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
In 1969, at the age of 23, Cecilia Ogwal won the “Miss Uganda” contest, adding a touch of glamour to her multifaceted life. She was also a devout Christian, who attributed her success to God’s grace and guidance. She was married to Lameck Ogwal, a former diplomat and politician, who served as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1985.
They had seven biological children and several adopted ones. They also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ogwal was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who balanced her family and career roles with remarkable ease.
Death Cause
Ogwal was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and underwent treatment in India and Uganda. She continued to serve as an MP, despite her deteriorating health. She died on 18 January 2024, in India, where she had gone for further treatment. She was 77 years old. Her death was announced by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, who described Ogwal as her mentor and friend.
Ogwal’s death was mourned by many Ugandans, who paid tribute to her legacy and achievements. She was eulogized as an iconic, consistent, and dedicated leader, who fought for democracy, justice, and development in Uganda. She was also hailed as the Iron Lady of Uganda, a title that reflected her strength, resilience, and determination.
Cecilia Ogwal was a Ugandan politician, businesswoman, and management consultant who served as a Member of Parliament for the Dokolo District Women’s Constituency from 2011 until she died in 2024. She was born on 6 December 1946, in Dokolo District, British Protectorate of Uganda, and graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1970.
She worked as the Liaison Officer for Returning Ugandan Refugees, the Operations Manager at the Uganda Advisory Board of Trade, the founder of the Housing Finance Bank, and the Chairperson of the Uganda Development Bank. She joined politics in 1985, serving as the Acting Secretary General of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) until 1992. She was part of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Ugandan Constitution. She was elected as the MP for Lira Municipality in 1996 and 2001, under the UPC ticket.
